Family’s death bed heartache
Red tape adds to grief
An Ayr family were at the centre of an international mission to help a woman reach her dying husband.
Teddy Hammann, 59, and his 10- yearold son John travelled to the town from Germany for his nephew’s wedding.
But last Saturday morning he began feeling unwell while at his sister Marina’s home in Ayr and was rushed to hospital.
Teddy died 90 minutes before his wife Luchy arrived in Scotland after days of delays in granting a visa.
Their son John was distraught that his “mamma” couldn’t be with him as his dad lay dying.
John was cared for in Ayr by his cousin Kevin, 26, and his wife Abigail, 27, who had just married.
They mounted a campaign to beat red tape and get Peruvian- born Luchy - not an EU national - into the UK.
Kevin said: “Luchy had to pay € 500 and travel to Berlin to the British Consul just to have an interview for a visa to get here. “It was a ridiculous situation.” Abigail added: “It’s absolutely disgusting. Luchy should be able to fly here to be at Teddy’s bedside and be with her son.”
The family campaign worked but Teddy died in hospital at Hairmyres last Thursday while Luchy was on a flight to the UK.
Arrangements are being made for Luchy and John to return home to Germany with Teddy’s body.