A DISABLED youngster's dream holiday to Australia has had to be cancelled after an airline refused to help him with his medical needs.

Samuel Johnston, 12, who has spina bifida, was due to fly with a carer to Sydney in March to join his mother Tracy Gates, who will be speaking at a conference there.

Samuel, a pupil at Patcham House School in Brighton, had been looking forward to the two-week holiday for almost a year. But the family's plans have been blocked by Qantas because of an argument over his need to drain fluid from his throat every three hours during the 24-hour flight.

The airline has said that this must be done in the cabin toilet but Ms Gates, an osteopath from Mill Straight in Southwater, near Crawley, said this is impossible because Samuel needs help from a carer.

She said he also needs a specialised wheelchair so he can raise himself up. The carer and the chair would not fit into the confined space.

She added: "No one would be able to see what was happening - it wouldn't affect the other passengers. I'm very angry."

Samuel was one of 34 children flown to Paris to see Mickey and Minnie Mouse at Disneyland by the Argus last June.

Samuel said: "I was so looking forward to the trip. I wanted to see the kangaroos and koala bears."

A statement from Qantas said: "Unfortunately, under the current policy, Qantas is unable to carry Samuel under the conditions requested by the family."

Quantas has refunded the family the cost of the tickets.

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