Disabled Man Thrown Out Of Cinema Because His 'Respirator Was Too Noisy'

A disabled man was thrown out of a cinema because the respirator he needs to breathe was too noisy.

31-year-old Richard Bridger, who has Duchenne muscular dystrophy and is confined to a wheelchair, was asked to leave the Odeon cinema in Epsom, Surrey, after complaints from other patrons.

He had gone to see ‘Taken 3’ with his carer but was approached by a cinema employee 40 minutes into the Liam Neeson action movie. After being asked to leave, he was also asked not to return to the cinema on Saturday nights because they are ‘too busy’.

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Six people had complained about the noise from the equipment that Mr Bridger needs in order to assist the muscles in his lungs, allowing him to breathe. Mr Bridger’s father Steve has described the treatment of his son as ‘disgusting’.

Above: Richard Bridger

"The ventilator does make a small noise, the air rushing and puffing, but it’s nothing drastic at all - nowhere near as loud as people eating popcorn," he said.

"But six people complained that the ventilator was making a nuisance. What about people eating popcorn and rustling the packets?

"When we are at home we can watch a TV programme with it on, if he was texting or answering phone calls during the film I could understand it but he can’t do any of those things because he doesn’t have the physical strength to do them.

"Richard has been going to the cinema since it opened and, in the last four years, has required the use of the ventilator to keep his carbon dioxide levels down which can be life-threatening if they are raised too high.

"All he wanted to do was go out and watch a film and it takes a lot of organisation to arrange for Richard to go out.

"I find it disgusting that, in this age, a person who is mentally capable - Richard has 14 GCSEs and a degree - but relies on life-saving equipment, should be treated in this way.

"This is total discrimination. Odeon doesn’t take disability seriously enough."

Above: Richard was hoping to watch ‘Taken 3’

Victoria Wright, from the muscular dystrophy charity Trailblazers added: “If the noise unfortunately disturbed other customers, then you would hope they would make the compassionate choice to move seats.

"Richard, on the other hand, has no choice but to use his ventilator to breathe. To remove Richard from the cinema and imply he can only come at certain, less popular times because of his disability, was insensitive and discriminatory."

Jason Stanton, Odeon’s head of guest experience, has since apologised for the treatment of Mr Bridger.

"We sincerely apologise for the way this matter was handled and for the upset it caused," he said.

"We are inviting Mr Bridger and his son to return and enjoy Taken 3 at any time as guests of Odeon Epsom.

"We are also looking again at what happened to ensure it never happens again.

"The cinema states on its website that it supports the principles of the Equality Act and is committed to recognising and responding to the needs of all disabled people.

"It is our intention, wherever possible, that all our premises and facilities are accessible whatever the nature of disability."

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Image credit: 20th Century Fox/SWNS