Throat cancer survivor: 'I was thrown out of Uber car because I can't speak properly'

Survivor: Sam Barbic was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer five years ago
Tom Powell|Hatty Collier10 October 2016

A throat cancer survivor with severe speech problems claims an Uber driver threw her out of his car because she “couldn’t speak properly”.

Sam Barbic, who breathes through a hole in her neck, said the driver refused to drive her before opening the passenger door and taking her by the arm.

The 45-year-old still had to pay £5 for the cancelled trip, which Uber has now confirmed it is investigating.

She said: “An Uber driver threw me out of his car refusing to drive me because I can't speak properly. I explained I'd had throat cancer.

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“This man threw me out of his car despite me trying to explain my voice was strange due to throat cancer...

“He just kept saying get out of my car. I said do you realise what you’re doing? He opened the passenger door, took my arm and said get out now.”

Ms Barbic, a set designer from Kensal Rise, was intending to meet a friend in Covent Garden when the incident took place at around 6.45pm on Thursday.

Five years ago she underwent extensive chemotherapy and radiotherapy after being diagnosed with stage 4 oesophageal cancer.

The only option for survival was to remove her throat and voice box in a total laryngectomy, meaning she can now only speak through a new throat constructed from her intestine and a small valve.

She told the Standard: “In order to speak I have to press the hole in my neck to block the air way and send air in to my mouth so I can make sounds.

“My speech is understandable but takes a bit of time to get used to as I have to pause for breath a lot - it’s not very loud and I’ve been told I sound a bit like Darth Vader!”

An Uber spokesman said: “We would like to extend our sincerest apologies to Sam. We’re looking into this as a matter of urgency. We’re waiting to speak to all parties so we can fully investigate this incident and take the appropriate action.”

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