Loving man’ fanatic great-grandad, 83
BRITISH passengers trapped on a cruise ship hit by coronavirus last night begged to be sent home.
More than 140 Britons are quarantined on the Grand Princess held off California near San Francisco. Of the 46 passengers tested for the virus 21 are positive.
There are fears it may turn into a second Diamond Princess, the ship held in Japan which had 705 sick aboard – and the first Briton to die. Last night a couple said masked waiters leave food outside cabins and staff refuse to speak to them.
Mum-of-five Sharon Lane, of Hinckley, Leics, with husband Stephen, 56, said: “We are getting very worried. We’ve been going round in circles all night and have no idea what will happen. We want the Government to ask and get us home quickly but we can’t see that happening.”
Like Sharon and Stephen, Norma and Andrew Philip were celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary.
Their son Lee, 30, of Crossgates, Fife, said: “They are on this cruise because the one they booked on the Diamond Princess was cancelled over coronavirus. They can’t be left out at sea. The British authorities have to get them back.”
Passengers boarded the cruise on February 21 and were due to disembark on Thursday.
US President Donald Trump indicated he would not be rescuing passengers and said: “I’d rather have them stay
on.” captioned: “My World.” Images online show the man with pals at the bowls club where he and his wife were members.
One friend there said: “He was a wonderful man. We had spoken before he went on his cruise and he was so excited.
“We knew he had tested positive for coronavirus but then all of a sudden we found out he had died. It’s heartbreaking for him and his family.”
It is understood ten members of staff at the hospital and five patients were put into isolation following the death. And concerns were raised that not enough was done to test him for coronavirus, or prevent the spread.
A family source said. “When family turned up on Wednesday to visit him, they were informed he had been put into isolation and was being tested for the coronavirus.
“They were made to wear suits in order to visit him and were only allowed in two at a time.”
His family added a statement which said: “While he may have tested positive for having the virus, it has not been confirmed what the cause of his death was.” A spokesman for Milton Keynes University Hospital added: “The hospital continues to work with Public Health England to isolate patients or staff who had contact with the patient.
“All services and appointments at the hospital are running normally. The Trust is following established guidelines to minimise the risk of the virus spreading. We will not be commenting further and ask that the family’s privacy is respected.”
Peter Marland, leader of Milton Keynes Council, said: “My deepest sympathy is with the family and friends of the person who died, it must be very shocking for them.”
Meanwhile, a River Nile cruise ship with more than 150 tourists and crew on board is in quarantine in Luxor, Egypt, after 45 people tested positive for coronavirus.
A Taiwanese-american tourist who had previously been on the same ship tested positive when she returned to Taiwan.
The World Health Organization informed Egyptian authorities, who then tested everyone on the ship.
The passengers include Americans, French and other nationalities but it is not known if there are any Britons on board.
We’re in isolation so can’t arrange to lay him to rest