A Western Isles fisherman claims he has been held “prisoner” in a Covid quarantine hotel.
Norwegian Jarle Onarheim moved to the isle of Barra with his wife Loraine and family seven years ago.
During the pandemic, the fisherman has travelled every six weeks to Tromso to work on the same boat as his brother Roger.
He then self isolated in a caravan on a Barra croft on his return.
But when Jarle, 44, went on his latest stint – a double trip lasting 12 weeks – he left the UK just days before tougher quarantine restrictions.
He was unaware of the changes so when he landed on a flight from Stavanger to Aberdeen on Thursday he was intercepted by immigration officials and put in a Covid quarantine hotel and required to self-isolate for 10 days at a cost of £1,750.
Ironically a fellow islander on the same flight was allowed through because he had exemption as an oil worker.
Loraine, 48, said she and their two children, Maren Rose, 10, and Oskar, seven, were distraught over Jarle’s predicament.
“It is like he has been imprisoned – held prisoner in a hotel cell. He had done everything and more to avoid catching Covid,” she said.
“Ironically, he is more at risk where he is now than he was on the boat.
“Why do Scottish oil workers coming from Norway get exemption and fishermen do not? It is crazy.”
.jpg?w=600)
