'Please get me home' plea from young Newtownabbey man stranded in hostel in Peru because of Covid-19
Graduate says he fears he could be trapped for up to three months
Last updated 1st Apr 2020
A County Antrim student who is trapped in a hostel in Peru because of coronavirus is making a desperate plea to get home
Rhys McKendry fears he could be stranded for up to three months after two other guests tested positive for Covid-19
The 21-year-old is now on day 14 of a quarantine after his dream trip turned into a nightmare
Speaking from his hostel via WhatsApp he said: “It does feel like you are being incarcerated at the minute where you are getting very little food and you are not allowed to leave your room,” he said.
“Essentlally it makes you feel like you’ve done something wrong.
“We are locked down in our room for 23 hours a day.
“No-one is allowed to leave the hostel under any circumstances.
“We are now on Government rations.”
Rhys, who graduated last summer, had been planning to travel for at least nine months and was just five weeks into his trip when this happened.
Main picture shows him at beginning of his trip.
Rhys says he is fearful not just for his physical health but also mentally and now simply wants to be able to return home.
“What I need now is basically for there to be a push on the UK and Irish Govts to negotiate with the Peruvian Ministry of Health to get the necessary approval and paperwork for me to leave the hostel to board a repatriation flight back home,” he said