Tourette's sufferer yells 'I'm in ISIS' at airports
A teenage sufferer of Tourette syndrome has spoken about how his condition has seen him uncontrollably yell terrorism-related words while in airports.
Lewis Nickell, has shouted phrases like "I'm a terrorist", "I'm in ISIS" and also frequently yells "bomb" while he is going through security, the Belfast Telegraph reports.
Mr Nickell, now 18, was diagnosed as a 16-year-old and speaks about his condition on a Channel 4 documentary series Flights From Hell: Caught On Camera.
The teen claims the more anxious and tired he is the worse the outbursts can become.
Mr Nickell said: "No matter how hard I try to keep it in it just comes out. I don't want to call people bad names and stuff but it's just what comes out".
"The more nervous you get, the more the tics and the swearing get worse, so I try not to get too stressed."
In footage shared online he can be heard saying "AK-47 in my back pocket" as he walks through the airport, and while on the plane he yells out "we’re smuggling cocaine".
But the teen says that once the plane is in the air he sometimes becomes calmer and the symptoms tend to ease, the Belfast Telegraph reports.
"When I'm actually on the plane everything is grand, I usually just fall asleep - the longest flight I've been on is to Spain but I'd love to go further, maybe to America or Australia."
According to the Tourette Syndrome Association of Australia Inc. website Tourette's is a neurological disorder.
"TS is characterised by rapid, repetitive and involuntary muscle movements and vocalisations called “tics”, and often involves behavioural difficulties," the website says.
The teen appeared on the show to raise awareness about Tourette syndrome.
He says you have to have a sense of humour and speaks openly about the disorder on a YouTube channel as well.
"I hope that when someone sees one of my videos, they'll laugh," Mr Nickell said.
"There's obviously a 100 per cent serious side to it, but you have to laugh too."
The teen says he does not dread travelling and refuses to let his condition stop him being able to.
