Ukrainian family forced to lift father down stairs

Dmytro Alukii (second from right) has a debilitating condition which requires regular hospital visits

A Ukrainian family living in Surrey say they "have no choice" but to carry their disabled father down five flights of stairs due to a broken lift in their building.

Dmytro Alukii, who lives at Lushington House in Walton-on-Thames, requires hospital treatment for severe rheumatoid arthritis and a chronic autoimmune condition.

The 57-year-old has been unable to use the stairs on his own since October 2024, meaning his teenage sons, Oleksandr and Maxsym, often have to carry him to the ground floor, the family said.

PA Housing apologised, adding that it aimed to replace some components in the lift to prevent future issues.

The family fled Ukraine in 2022 after the Russian invasion, selling their goats and leaving their farm, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

They moved into the PA Housing property in September 2023, from which time they claim the lift has broken at least once a month, sometimes taking a week to be repaired.

Oleksandr said: "It's really dangerous. One step wrong and three of us fall down."

His brother, Maxsym, added: "We have no choice. We cannot miss the hospital appointment."

Mr Alukii's wife, Iryna, who is his carer, said the whole building was not suitable for wheelchairs.

She said the family had asked the social housing provider multiple times if they could have a ground floor flat.

The family live on the fifth floor of Lushington House in Walton-on-Thames

Suzannah Taylor, PA Housing executive director of development, said: "We've been in regular contact with Mr Alukii's family, including making arrangements to support with accessing the stairs, and want to make sure his current home is accessible and suitable.

"Our teams will continue to work closely with the family, as well as Elmbridge Borough Council, around their options for rehousing."

An Elmbridge Borough Council spokesperson added: "Please be assured that we are doing everything we can to support the family within the scope of our role".