Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
World
Bradley Jolly

Coronavirus: Brits threatened with arrest if they leave Peru hotel room during lockdown

Two Brits have been threatened with arrest if they leave their hotel room in Peru - forcing them to miss a repatriation flight home.

Sian Forkan, 27, and Abi Dennison, 28, have no idea when they'll be able to get back to the UK after the Pariwana Hostel in the Cusco area was put into lockdown recently.

Two tourists at the accommodation had tested positive for coronavirus and now Sian and Abi are two of around 10 Brits stuck inside the hotel.

They have been threatened with arrest, and jail time of up to 10 years should they try and flee.

Sian, who is a HR assistant from Manchester, said: "Watching people fly away while you are stuck is really tough.

Do you have a coronavirus story to share? Email webnews@mirror.co.uk

Sian (left) and Abi have been travelling for months (Triangle News)

"We're scared as we've been living in a place where coronavirus has been present.

"If we get who knows when we'll get home. It's really upsetting."

As the pair were banned from leaving their accommodation, they were unable to catch the recent repatriation flight they were due to take home.

Abi and Sian had started a three month trip in February. They had travelled from Panama to Colombia, and then on to Peru.

Sian added: "In South America at the time there were hardly any cases [of coronavirus]. We didn't think it would blow up like it has done."

The friends have now been put in a quarantine (Triangle News)

But Peru dramatically closed its airports and borders on March 16, giving travellers only 24 hours to leave.

Sian and Abi had been on their way to Machu Picchu, the incredible Incan citadel high in the Andes mountains, when they heard the news.

More than 300 miles from the capital Lima, it was impossible for the girls to get on a flight.

"It was total chaos," Sian continued.

"Flights were either fully booked or cancelled.

"We were told the army was at the airport stopping people without tickets from coming in.

"We were in total panic, we hadn't slept, we were worried we wouldn't be able to leave."

A member of the armed forces talks to a driver in Lima, Peru (Annie Bungeroth/Triangle News)

The pair tried to contact the British Embassy in Peru, but struggled to get through.

They rang the consulate in London - who had no idea what was going on in the South American nation.

The embassy's communication throughout has been appalling," Sian added.

"I do think the ambassador could at least make a phone call to us when we found out coronavirus was present in our hostel - just to reassure us.

"I do think that's a bit unforgiveable to be honest."

BRITISH AIRWAYS HAS TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED ALL FLIGHTS FROM GATWICK AIRPORT

The pair holed up at the Pariwana Hostel, and found out two other travellers at the hostel had tested positive for coronavirus.

"We were told we would not be able to leave at all," Sian said.

"The street got cordoned off and there were police guarding the door."

The pair were told they could be holed out in the Andes hostel for up to three months.

Sian's mother- back in the UK - has been desperately trying to get help.

She even contacted a Catholic Priest in Peru to assist the pair.

Sian and Abi, pictured in Panama, told of their ordeal (Triangle News)

On Sunday night they were moved to a new hotel by armed police, and now are stuck in the room 24 hours a day.

"We're really in each other pockets now," Sian laughed.

Food gets left outside the pair's room three times a day.

They while away the hours speaking to friends and family, reading and watching Netflix.

The pair hope that the Foreign Secretary's announcement yesterday/on Monday will help them get home.

The Government has created a special travel company to provide flights for Brits stranded in places where commercial airlines have been banned.

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said the Government has created a special travel company to provide flights for stranded Brits (PA)

It has pledged £75 million to help pay for these repatriation flights.

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said: "This is a worrying time for many British citizens travelling abroad.

"Where commercial flights are not possible, we will build on the earlier charter flights we organised back from China, Japan, Cuba, Ghana and Peru.

"The arrangements agreed today will provide a clearer basis to organise special charter flights where Britons find themselves stranded.

"Our priority will always be the most vulnerable."

Sian responded: "It does sound like a positive step forward and that they are doing everything they can to help people get out.

"I just hope to God that includes us, because we've found ourselves in a bit of a predicament.

"The repatriation flights have already gone. Unfortunately we have not been able to get on them because of two positive cases of coronavirus.

"We are holding onto the hope that these new announcements do still include the people who have been left behind in Peru."

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.