A cruise ship passenger was airlifted to hospital 800 miles from home against his wishes when the ship doctor misdiagnosed his "pulled muscle", he claims.

Stephen Cassidy, 60, was airlifted off a cruise he was enjoying with his wife, Carol, 61, after the ship’s doctor suspected he had an infection in his hip, he said.

However, he was later told by medics in the hospital there was "no sign" of an infection – and that he had most likely pulled a muscle, he claims.

Stephen says he was left in Shetland, 800 miles from home, and "felt like a prisoner" when he was not allowed to leave the ship’s medical centre before being airlifted.

Now, Stephen says that the experience left him feeling panicked and angry – and he missed out on celebrating his wife’s birthday.

Stephen, a music teacher and former army reservist and police dog handler, said: “I just can't understand it - I was feeling totally panicked and angry.

“I asked if I could leave the medical centre to pack my own bag – they said no and I felt like a prisoner.

“The ship’s doctor told me that something in one of the blood tests he carried out suggested I had infection in my hip.

“I never should have been medically disembarked from the ship – I was absolutely fuming.”

Stephen and Carol, from Poole, Dorset, paid £3,598 for a two-week cruise to Norway with Princess Cruises for her 60th birthday and their 40th wedding anniversary.

Halfway through the trip, Stephen began to experience pain in his left thigh.

He had previously had a hip replacement on that side, so visited the ship’s doctor.

After a physical examination and an x-ray, the doctor determined there were signs to suggest Stephen had contracted an infection in his hip.

He was placed on an IV drip twice a day - then three times per day - during between May 19 and 24.

Initially, it was planned that the ship would dock in Iceland and Stephen could visit a doctor on land before re-joining the cruise, however the boat was unable to stop.

Instead, the ship’s doctor consulted with an orthopaedic surgeon online and sent the x-rays to be analysed – with the x-ray report indicating there was nothing to worry about and the surgeon suggesting Stephen should stay on the ship, he claims.

However, on May 24, Stephen says he was asked his weight by nurses and claims his wife was told to go and pack his bag.

And when he asked if he could pack his own bag, Stephen says he was told he could not leave the medical centre.

He was then placed in a wheelchair – despite being able to walk – and wheeled onto the deck, where he was airlifted into a helicopter along with two other unwell passengers.

The trio were flown to Lerwick where they were delivered to Gilbert Bain hospital and assessed.

To Stephen’s frustration, he was told there were no signs of infection, and he was most likely suffering from a pulled muscle.

Stephen paid £870 for flights home and a night in a hotel.