Basketball player's missing wheelchair traced ahead of Commonwealth bid

Jess Whyte would not have been able to compete without the chair, her teammate said.

Jess Whyte’s missing wheelchair traced ahead of Team Scotland Commonwealth bid — Found: Jess Whyte's missing wheelchair has been traced ahead of the Commonwealth Games. Team Scotland

26th Jul 2022

Parathlete Jess Whyte’s custom-made wheelchair has been found two days after it went missing following a flight.

She flew with her team from East Midlands Airport to Amsterdam on Saturday, but the £7,000 wheelchair was nowhere to be found upon landing.

Her teammate, Robyn Love, appealed for help on social media following the disappearance – warning that Ms Whyte would not be able to compete without her chair.

Ms Whyte is a member of Scotland’s 3×3 basketball team.

Her team was traveling to compete in a tournament in the Netherlands ahead of the start of the Commonwealth Games on Thursday.

Ms Love announced on Monday that the wheelchair had been located safe and sound, thanking her followers for sharing and supporting the appeal.

She said: “We felt the love today and we will carry it into the Games with us.”

Ms Whyte said: “I’m really chuffed to be reunited with my wheelchair after a very stressful day, and would like to thank everyone who worked hard to get it back to me.

“Unfortunately this isn’t an uncommon experience for those of us who use wheelchairs, but I’m glad it’s raised awareness and will hopefully have a positive impact on the issue.”

FOUND 🙌🏼😁 Thank you to everyone who shared, reached out, picked up the phone! We felt the love today and we will carry it into the Games with us 💙

Thank you to @EMA_Airport & Swissport for locating it – it’s stressful/busy times & we appreciate the immense effort 👍🏼 https://t.co/oj7eNrHGMG
— Robyn Love (@Robyn_Love13) July 25, 2022