The heartbroken family of a British man who died in Barcelona fear that they won't be able arrange his funeral as they must now self-isolate after returning from Spain.
It comes as the government made a bombshell U-turn on Saturday night after announcing new quarantine rules for all travellers arriving from Spain - just five hours before they were imposed.
Carer James Mortiboys, 44, died during a recent holiday in Barcelona with friends leaving behind a 15-year-old daughter.
Now his grieving family say the new quarantine rules have affected their plan to repatriate his body to the UK and organise his funeral.
The family had travelled to Spain to bid a final farewell as they switched off his life support machine.
At Birmingham Airport yesterday, brother Anthony Mortiboys said the new restrictions were fuelling the families grief.
He said: "The new restrictions are crazy and very annoying. They will adversely effect many people and will cause a lot of extra grief for our family.
"I have just lost my big brother.
"We’ve got a funeral to arrange and a body to bring home and we’re not sure how we’re meant to do it if we’re all in quarantine for two weeks.
"It’s a nightmare and there’s been no help or support whatsoever from the authorities."
Anthony, 41, from Nuneaton, Warwickshire, said James was left fighting for his life after nearly drowning in the sea.
He said: "My brother was fit and healthy but suddenly had a seizure while he was swimming. He drowned but was was put on a life support.
"The family went out last week to see him in hospital and had to make the heartbreaking decision to switch off his life support."
The body of James was set to be repatriated later this week by his dad and brother.
But now they must self-isolate for 14 days following the shock announcement on Saturday evening.
Under government restrictions for travellers returning to England from a non-exempt country, you can only leave the house to go to the funeral of a family member of someone you live with
Devastated dad David, accompanied by his tearful wife Christine, said: "We has been due to go back to Barcelona to bring my son home but now we have to quarantine and how can we organise the funeral properly?
"We can’t. It is all such a mess."
Anthony, who flew out with James‘ daughter 15-year-old Abi, added: "But it is what it is and it has to be done.
"We just weren’t expecting to have to go into a fortnight’s quarantine on our return home.
"We only found out last night after paying respects to my brother. It’s a very difficult time.
"It’s not that it will affect my job.
"I’m a company director of a construction firm and I have staff who can still work but really it’s all about my brother now."
Anthony's wife April, 33, said the family desperately tried to return home before the measures began at midnight on Saturday.
But prices skyrocketed following the shock announcement, which has affected 600,000 travellers.
April, who works as a self-employed cleaner, said: "We were looking at new flights but there was nothing suitable and they had all gone up in price from £40 to £300 which is ridiculous.
"We had been due to fly home this morning so we did along with 100 other passengers on our flight.
"None of us have any Covid symptoms but we’ve all got our home testing kits and we’ll now have to stay in quarantine which means I won’t be able to work and will lose money."
