Bognor Regis couple stranded in New Zealand ‘extremely relieved’ to have arrived home

Keith and Sylvia Hall had been on a ‘holiday of a lifetime’ to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary, which soon because a ‘total nightmare’ when their flights home were cancelled.

SEE MORE: Bognor Regis couple stranded in New Zealand as 50th wedding celebration becomes ‘disaster holiday’

The couple, aged 74 and 69, found themselves stuck with no way of getting home, and Sylvia said: “Our holiday company left us in the lurch, the consulate were useless, our insurers didn’t help at all.”

They are now ‘extremely relieved’ to be back home after catching a Singapore Airlines flight.

While Singapore had closed its borders to international travellers, including those just transiting through its airport, more than a week ago, the flight was allowed on the understanding no one got on or off it when it arrived from Auckland, New Zealand, and before it left for London Heathrow.

This meant a two hour stop in Singapore to refuel but no opportunity for any of the passengers to exit the plane.

Sylvia said: “The journey home was pretty hair raising as we weren’t sure what would happen in Singapore.

“My husband and I are not great travellers but even frequent flyers would struggle with a mammoth 26 hours on a packed plane.

“We are very grateful to the Bognor Regis Observer for covering the story last week and are similarly grateful to all our friends and family who lobbied MPs, the Foreign Office and airlines to take action to get those stuck abroad back to the UK.

“Keith and I are extremely relieved to be home and just hope that any others stranded overseas are able to get home safely too.”

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