Help find Worthing woman's beloved campervan

WHEN Vicki Thomas was almost killed in a campervan fire in Australia, it did not put her off the vehicle she had always been fascinated with.

But Worthing woman Vicki's love of campervans turned to misery again this week because the van she bought after pulling through her accident has been stolen.

Vicki, of Grand Avenue, was left with 70 per cent burns to her body after the gas cooker inside the campervan she was travelling around Australia in burst into flames in 1999.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The whole van was engulfed in flames while Vicki, who was 24 at the time, was inside.

Despite being left in intensive care, Vicki made an amazing recovery and went on to buy another campervan when she returned to England.

Labour of love

Vicki, now 32, has spent the last eight years revamping her split-screen green and cream 1963 VW campervan, spending 10,000 on it and affectionately naming it Trevor.

But on Sunday, June 1, just weeks after taking her newly spruced up van on the road for the first time, it was stolen from right outside her home.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"I'm just devastated," said Vicki. "The most upsetting part is that I got this van when I was rough, and it was rough '“ we have both been fixed and recovered together."

Vicki said she normally kept her campervan in a garage but had parked it on the road on, ready to make her way to a roadshow.

Just two hours later, at around 2.15pm, Vicki went back outside to find the campervan gone.

Heartbreaking discovery

"I just cried," said part-time nurse Vicki.

"I just cannot believe it has been stolen and that I didn't hear the engine starting.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"I think I have been watched and someone knows I bring it out at the weekends."

Vicki said just two weeks ago she had taken her left-hand drive Italian campervan to the Run to the Sun VW festival in Newquay.

"Everyone loved it," said Vicki. "I was really proud of it. I had been driving round like the cat that got the cream."

Facebook users can click here to see the group.

Vicki has contacted police, port authorities and has set up her own Facebook group on the internet called Trevor is Missing.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

She said: "I've been told it will probably get broken down and sold as spares so I have been watching eBay like a hawk."

Appeal

Anyone with any information about the stolen campervan should call Worthing police on 0845 6070999.

-------------------------------------

Click here to go back to Worthing news.

Where are you? Add your pin to the Herald's international readers' map by clicking here.

Email the Herald: [email protected]