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Wales Online
Wales Online
National
Thomas Deacon

Thomas Cook crew left in tears after Welsh mum's heartwarming gesture

Thomas Cook cabin crew were moved to tears after a Welsh mum organised a whip-round on their final flight.

When one mum from Pontypridd learnt that the air hostesses helping to get them home from Turkey were working for free, she decided to do something about it.

Elaine Kerslake, from Glyncoch, decided to help out the cabin crew, who had not long learnt they'd lost their jobs, and organised a whip-round raising more than £700. 

Video from the flight from Dalaman, Turkey, to Cardiff Airport on Tuesday morning shows Elaine making a speech to the rest of the passengers, followed by a very emotional speech from one of the cabin crew.

Speaking on Tuesday Elaine said: "We got on the plane and we found out that that the air hostesses were working for free to get us all home.

"So I said I'm going to start a whip-round. I thought it's not fair on these girls. I went around and raised over £700."

After Elaine spoke to the rest of the passengers, one of the cabin crew took the microphone and gave an emotional thank you.

The air hostess can be heard saying: "Thank you so much. We are so happy to be here. We hope you did enjoy your last Thomas Cook airlines flight with us. Thank you."

The group entered compulsory liquidation on Monday morning, following failed efforts to secure a rescue deal over the weekend.

A huge repatriation is now underway, and the firm's collapse is expected to leave around 9,000 people without jobs.

The video then shows Elaine hugging a number of the cabin crew after a round of applause from passengers.

A Thomas Cook flight at Cardiff Airport (Cardiff Airport)

Elaine said: "The air hostess who made that speech, she was heartbroken. We were all heartbroken on that plane.

"There was even men crying on the plane. As we were getting off the back of the plane, the two air hostesses were sobbing uncontronallably."

Elaine added that she hopes other travellers being brought home will also have a whip-round for Thomas Cook staff.

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