British man accuses Virgin of negligence after his beloved bulldog Bruno died in 90F heat when it was 'left on airport tarmac for 40 minutes'
- Neil Maccabee, 56, was travelling to Sydney with his wife Kristina on Boxing Day
- The couple's bulldog Bruno, seven, died of heatstroke after being left on tarmac
- Devastated couple were informed when they landed in Sydney after the flight
- Mr Maccabee has accused Virgin Australia of being negligent towards Bruno
A British man and his Australian wife have slammed Virgin for negligence after their beloved pet dog died of heat stroke when he was left in sweltering 90F on an airport runway by staff.
Former BBC finance manager Neil Maccabee, 56, and his wife Kristina were travelling with seven-year-old French bulldog Bruno from Townsville in Queensland, Australia, to Sydney on Boxing Day.
However, upon landing they were informed by Virgin staff that their beloved pet was dead.
Kristina and Neil Maccabee were returning home after visiting family in Townsville, northern Queensland, over Christmas (pictured Kristina Maccabee and Bruno)
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The heartbroken couple are awaiting the results of the official RSPCA autopsy but have been told that Bruno probably died of heatstroke.
They have slammed Virgin Australia, after saying that they spotted Bruno’s carrier on the tarmac in baking temperatures for up to 40 minutes.
The airline has rejected the claim, saying that Bruno was only on the tarmac for minutes, although it has refused to release the CCTV footage to confirm this.
Former BBC finance manager Neil Maccabee, 56, has slammed Virgin Australia, accusing them of negligence
Mr and Mrs Maccabee said that they had seen Bruno waiting on the tarmac in searing heat for up to 40 minutes
Mr Maccabee said: 'We believe Virgin Australia has been negligent in their duty of care towards Bruno.
'To leave a dog in a plastic caged container on the tarmac in tropical heat for any length of time is indefensible.
‘Why won’t they show us the CCTV footage? We both looked out of the window and saw Bruno’s pet carrier on a buggy, waiting to be loaded.
‘I want them to acknowledge that they failed to follow the correct procedures.’
Mr Maccabee moved Down Under with his Australian-born wife 13 years ago and now lives in Wentworth Falls, New South Wales.
Last night, a Virgin spokesman said: ‘Our team followed all correct processes when transporting Bruno and ensured he had water and was placed in an undercover, shaded area prior to boarding.
The couple took Bruno everywhere with them and flew back to Sydney with Virgin Airlines on Boxing day (stock image)
‘In no circumstance was Bruno left on the tarmac for an extended period of time.
‘Unfortunately, there are inherent risks in transporting brachycephalic [flat-faced] breeds such as Bruno, due to the respiratory issues often experienced by the animal while in transit.
‘As part of the booking process, guests are required to acknowledge the risks associated with transporting these breeds.’
