Expat and family flee Wuhan
AN EXPAT has told of his family’s dramatic escape from the Chinese city of Wuhan, a month after it was locked down because of coronavirus.
Teacherswayne Duplessis, 58, his Indonesian wife Emilytjandra, 60, and their two sons were trapped after the virus broke out in early January.
The Canadian embassy agreed to fly the family out on Monday night despite only Wayne and his sonwyatt, 15, being Canadian. But her son Adryan, 38, was almost stopped from boarding the plane on Monday night after collapsing.
Wayne, who had made funeral arrangements, said: “We had our paperwork from the Canadian embassy and our letter of permission from the Indonesian embassy. We made it to the gate.we were ready to step through to the boarding area.then Adryan disappeared.
“Automatic sensors had flagged Adryan with a fever.we agreed then and there that we would stay, all or none of us would board the plane.
“Emily persuaded them to test Adryan again. After 10 minutes his temperature was low enough to pass and another 10 minutes passed and Adryan appeared.”
Wayne told of a “wave of relief” as the family arrived at a hotel near a military base in Ontario. Adryan was put on an IV drip suffering malnutrition and dehydration. Coronavirus was ruled out.
Wayne said: “Onthursday morning the snow was falling and we took Adyran outside to see his first snowfall.”
But he added: “We can’t help but be concerned about our colleagues, students, and friends still in Wuhan.
“We are trying to keep the world’s attention on the situation.”
‘Sensors said our son had a fever’