A cinema-goer with Duchenne muscular dystrophy was thrown out part way through a film after complaints his life-saving ventilator was a "noise nuisance".
Richard Bridger, 31, was asked to leave an Odeon cinema in Epsom, Surrey, as he watched Taken 3, the Liam Neeson thriller, with his carer.
It happened just a week after volunteers from the Motor Neurone Disease Association were allowed to make bucket collections at the cinema, which is screening the film about the wheelchair-bound science genius Stephen Hawking, The Theory of Everything.
Mr Bridger is confined to an electric wheelchair as he has extreme muscle weakness and requires the use of a ventilator attached to his wheelchair for at least 18 hours a day,
He was enjoying Taken 3 in the wheelchair bay of the cinema when his carer was approached by a member of staff at the cinema on Saturday night.
He was told that he and Mr Bridger would have to get out because people had complained about the sound of the ventilator.
His father, Steve Bridger, said the member of staff who asked them to leave did not apologise and only gave them a refund when the carer asked for one.
He said six people, out of an audience of 200, "were complaining that the ventilator was a nuisance" and that the carer was told his son should not to come to the cinema on Friday or Saturday evenings in future as it is “too busy”.
“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.”
Jason Stanton, head of guest experience at Odeon, said: “We sincerely apologise for the way this matter was handled and for the upset it caused.
“We are inviting Mr Bridger and his son to return and enjoy Taken 3 at any time as guests of Odeon Epsom.”
