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A morbidly obese Frenchman deemed too fat to travel has finally been granted passage home... by P&O.
Kevin Chenais, who weighs 32 stone, had travelled to the States for treatment to a hormone imbalance.
But the 22-year-old was told this week he was too fat to fly home by British Airways.
A reprieve from Virgin Atlantic took him to Heathrow Airport.
But, on arriving, he was told his journey ended there: he wasn't allowed entry to the cross-channel Eurostar train to get home.
Chenais and his parents were said to have been met by French consular staff at the airport, who tried to secure them a place aboard a Paris-bound Eurostar train.
But Eurostar refused him travel because of its regulations for evacuation procedures.
Now P&O have stepped in to offer Mr Chenais transport on a ferry from Dover later today.
P&O spokesman Brian Rees said: "He’s in a desperate, plight the poor chap. It's not difficult for us.
“We are used to carrying very big ambulances for people going for treatment in London. Mr Chenais will travel with us later today in an ambulance.”
He said the firm was approached yesterday.
Mr Rees added: “I haven’t spoken to him directly but I imagine the sense of relief must be incredible.
"He has enough health issues without the fundamental one of not being able to get where he needs to be.”
A Eurostar spokesman confirmed it was unable to accommodate Mr Chenais due to very strict regulations governing evacuation.
"I haven’t spoken to him directly but I imagine the sense of relief must be incredible..." - Brian Rees, from P&O
But a statement released today said: "Having arranged overnight accommodation in central London for Mr Chenais and his family, we contacted P&O last night to request their assistance arranging passage across the Channel.
"Following receipt of the necessary safety clearance from P&O we paid for the family to be transported to Dover in a special ambulance where they will board the P&O ‘Pride of Britain’ bound for Calais later this afternoon.
"Upon arrival in Calais, the family will continue their journey in the same ambulance to their home in south eastern France.
"We are extremely pleased that by working with P&O we have been able to help the Chenais family at this difficult time."
Mr Chenais is said to suffer from a hormone imbalance and went to the United States in May last year for treatment.
The family is believed to have tried to get the cruise ship Queen Mary II home but were refused by the ship's owner.
The family were trying to reach their home town of Ferney-Voltaire near the Swiss border.
