Basketball player's missing wheelchair found in Amsterdam

The missing chair has been found in Amsterdam and is being flown back to the UK

A parasport athlete whose custom-built wheelchair went missing during a flight is expected to be reunited with it later.

Jess Whyte said her £7,000 chair was lost after she flew from East Midlands Airport to Amsterdam on Saturday.

The 24-year-old basketball player was competing in a tournament ahead of the Commonwealth Games.

Her teammate said the chair had since been located and thanked everyone for sharing the appeal.

The Commonwealth Games get under way on Thursday

Ms Whyte is a member of Scotland's 3x3 basketball team.

The tournament in the Netherlands was the team's last chance to face opposition before the Commonwealth Games start on Thursday.

She said her chair was dismantled for the flight and when they arrived, only the wheels could be found.

Robyn Love - who plays for Scotland and Loughborough Lightning with Ms Whyte - confirmed on Twitter that the missing part had now been located.

She said the frame was found in Amsterdam and was being flown back to the UK.

It comes just in time with the team due to move to the athletes' village in Birmingham later.

A Flybe spokesperson said: "We are pleased to confirm that the passenger's wheelchair will be arriving on a flight to Birmingham Airport later this afternoon after it was located by Swissport, the baggage handling company that assists Amsterdam Airport Schiphol with accepting and transferring wheelchairs and other important cargo to Flybe and other airlines.

"The passenger has been informed, and we are all working to ensure that the wheelchair is delivered quickly and safely.

"We and Amsterdam Airport would like to apologise to the passenger for the delay and any inconvenience caused."