Home / Disasters and Accidents / RAC Fails Vulnerable Family for 19 Hours
RAC Fails Vulnerable Family for 19 Hours
3 Dec, 2025
Summary
- Man stranded 19 hours after van broke down outside safari park.
- His wife has quadriplegic cerebral palsy and uses an electric wheelchair.
- RAC had estimated recovery between 9:20 PM and 12:20 AM.
A father was left stranded for 19 hours in his van outside West Midlands Safari Park after it broke down. The vehicle, adapted for his wife who has quadriplegic cerebral palsy, stopped running on Tuesday afternoon. Despite having full RAC cover, the family endured a lengthy wait for recovery services.
The breakdown occurred around 4 PM, with a patrol arriving at 5 PM. The van was moved outside the park gates for recovery after closing. The RAC patrol noted the presence of a child, a baby, and the wife in an electric wheelchair in their report.
Initial recovery estimates suggested a 9:20 PM to 12:20 AM window, but the arrival time repeatedly shifted. The man's father-in-law collected his wife and children, but he remained with the van. He expressed a desire for more compassionate service from breakdown providers, particularly for vulnerable customers.
