Heartless
This little German boy’s dad is dying in hospital after taking ill while visiting family in Scotland .. astonishingly, the Home Office haven’t let his mum in the country to say final farewell to her husband & comfort her distraught son
A DESPERATE mum has blasted Home Office delays preventing her from flying to Scotland to say goodbye to her dying husband – and to comfort her distraught son.
Luchy Lopez-Hammann, 52, who lives in Hamburg, Germany, has been frantically trying to travel to the UK since her husband Andreas Hammann had a heart attack on Saturday and was rushed to hospital.
Her family are furious that despite her pleas, Luchy has been barred from entering the UK because she isn’t an EU national.
Despite Luchy living in Germany for 13 years, and her husband and son being German, she holds a Peruvian passport.
Andreas, 59, also known as Teddy, travelled from Germany to Ayr with son John, who is only 10, to attend nephew Kevin McLaughlin’s wedding last Thursday.
On Saturday morning, he began feeling unwell while at his sister Marina’s home in Ayr.
Andreas underwent emergency surgery after being rushed to Hairmyres Hospital in East Kilbride, but there were complications and his kidneys failed. The family are now preparing to turn off his life support with Luchy desperately trying to get to Scotland before that happens.
Andreas was last night clinging to life in the intensive care unit at Hairmyres.
The couple’s son John has been left distraught and wishes his “mamma” could be with him. He is now being looked after by cousin Kevin, 26, and his wife Abigail, 27, at their home in Ayr.
The heartbroken youngster was at his father’s hospital bedside before returning to Ayr. Kevin said: “At first I only explained what I needed to John, but I’ve had to tell him what’s happening. He doesn’t want to go back to the hospital.
“Luchy had to pay €500 and travel to Berlin on Wednesday to the British Consul just to have an interview for a visa to get here and there’s no guarantee it will be granted. It’s not as if Luchy is coming here to stay or take money. It’s just a ridiculous situation for them to be going through.” Abigail said: “It’s absolutely disgusting what they are doing to them. Luchy should be able to fly here to be at Andreas’ bedside and be with her son.
“John’s dad is being kept alive and he needs his mum here to comfort him. Our own sons are distracting him but he is so upset.”
Last night the Scottish Government intervened to try to get Luchy into Scotland. Migration Minister Ben Macpherson said: “A way must be found urgently to enable Ms Lopez-Hammann to be with her husband and son.”
Last night the Home Office insisted they were trying to get Luchy into the country.
A spokesman said: “We are currently trying to contact Mrs Lopez-Hammann to arrange a visa waiver which will allow her to travel as soon as she has arranged a flight.” Andreas’ long-time friend Willie Drummond, 68, who was at the hospital yesterday, said: “The machines are being turned off now one by one. But the patient is determindly hanging on till his wife arrives.
“This whole incident could have been avoided if the Home Office had reacted sooner.
“We pray that his wife makes it on time.”