HELP GET US HOME
Mission to assist two citizens as daughter of woman on second vessel reveals ordeal
AN operation was under way last night to bring two Irish cruise passengers home while a woman is awaiting test results after dozens on board a separate vessel tested positive for Covid-19.
British Airways flew the two citizens back from the US to London where Aer Lingus was last night due to transport them back to Dublin and they will then be placed in isolation.
The passengers were onboard a cruise ship which finally docked in Florida on Friday after weeks at sea.
Meanwhile, Cork woman Chloe Mccullagh said she is elated to have her mother, Phil, 59, home after she had been stranded on a cruise ship bound for South America for five weeks.
Phil returned home on Tuesday but Chloe told how her mother is now feeling unwell, with a severe sore throat, and is in isolation awaiting coronavirus test results. Dozens of passengers have tested positive for Covid-19, according to reports, since returning home from the same trip with Celebrity Eclipse.
Chloe said: “My mum flew home on Tuesday evening from LAX [Los Angeles Airport] to Heathrow and then to Cork.
“She’s now in isolation for two weeks and was tested for the virus on Friday.
“It was very hard not to be able to hug her when she came back after being away for nearly five weeks. But I see her every day, thank God. I have to open her front door and keep my distance outside but at least we can still chat.
“She was delighted to finally be home but is wrecked after all the travelling and hasn’t felt well since.
Chloe said her mum is battling hard but is on the mend.
She added: “Her voice is gone and her throat is very sore. She had a high temperature on Friday, when the ambulance was here. But she’s much better today, thank God.
“She was just telling us all about the trip and how fantastic the staff and captain were on the cruise the whole time. She said they couldn’t have been better.
“They started disembarking on Monday and one woman and three crew members were diagnosed with it.
This was only told to everyone else on the cruise on Tuesday night via email, so the HSE were on to my mum then, to inform her and that’s when the ambulance came.
“The results will take 12 to 14 days and she will be in isolation till next Tuesday week, so still a bit to go.”
The Celebrity Eclipse finally docked in California on Monday after Chilean authorities refused to allow the ship to disembark last month. According to US media, one passenger, a woman in her 70s, was taken off the ship and transported by ambulance to hospital, where she was treated in the critical care section after testing positive.
US media also reported dozens of passengers, including those having returned to Florida and as far afield as Finland, had reported positive Covid-19 test results. More than 20 are still believed to be waiting for results. Family members have questioned why officials stated passengers were healthy and allowed to travel home.
More than 2,000 passengers were screened for a temperature under 38C, then permitted to leave in buses and planes to go home.
Meanwhile, Chloe penned a song for her mother and posted it online to spur her on while she was on the ship. Phil was one of 20 Irish citizens onboard the cruise which docked in the Port of San Diego.
Chloe said she was “thrilled” to have her mother home but she’s living in her own apartment in isolation.
She and her family had bought Phil the cruise as a present to celebrate her 60th birthday later this year. Celebrity Cruises said the company is in contact with organisations about assisting passengers.
The spokesperson added: “On behalf of our guests, we are in close co-ordination with various government and public health authorities relating to transport. This work continues.
“We are grateful for their guidance and support including ensuring the health and well-being of all.”
An Aer Lingus spokeswoman said the airline “continues to work with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to assist with the repatriation of Irish citizens”.
She added: “We will assist with the repatriation of two Irish citizens from a cruise in Florida and our fellow IAG company British Airways will operate a charter service to London for these citizens.
“Aer Lingus will assist further by accommodating them on our flight(s) from London Heathrow to Dublin.”
She was delighted to finally be home but is wrecked and hasn’t felt well since CHLOE MCCULLAGH ON HER MUM’S RETURN FROM CRUISE SHIP