A COUPLE are trapped in India after a string of flights back to the UK were cancelled in the desperate bid to mitigate the spread of coronavirus.

Andy Cooper, 62, and Ann Dalrymple, 65, from Hangleton are now forced to shop in the early hours to avoid violent police in the state of Goa.

Andy has high blood pressure while Ann has Crohn’s disease and diabetes, and they need a range of medications to treat their conditions. While most of this has been available over the counter, Andy said they have been unable to buy some items.

“In particular, one that keeps Ann’s Crohn’s disease under control,” Andy said. “If she has a flare-up, it would make her more vulnerable to infections and viruses.”

The pair say they are two of several UK citizens to be stuck in the area.

Andy said: “I see other Brits in the morning while out trying to get shopping, 5.30am is the best time. You can pick up bread, milk and vegetables early before police are on the streets. People are petrified of them. I even heard of a British woman getting hit with a big stick that they all carry.”

Andy said they became stranded in the country after being caught in a cycle of cancelled flights and false promises.

He said: “Our original flight back to the UK should have left here on Saturday evening to Muscat, then on to Heathrow. We received an email five days before our departure to say our stop in Muscat would be 12 hours longer than originally intended. Then, the following day, we received another email to say the flight was cancelled altogether and we would receive a voucher.

“We looked for, and purchased, another flight, only for it to, once again, be cancelled the next day. We were just given more vouchers.

"I realised at that point that they were willing to sell any amount of flights you wanted to buy, knowing full well that they were not going at all.”

Andy and Ann are so desperate to get home they have contacted Hove MP Peter Kyle for help.

The Labour MP said: “I’ve been supporting constituents who have found themselves trapped in all four corners of the globe and even at sea.

"The Government was slow to react and Britons were sometimes left behind as other nationalities were flown home by their governments.

"I’ve been in touch with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office about Andy and Ann and I’m doing everything I can to get them home to Hangleton where they belong.”

  • The coronavirus Sussex Crisis Fund has been set up to help those affected by the pandemic. The Argus’s charity and American Express have each donated £50,000 to kick-start the appeal. Grants will usually be for up to £5,000. More information is available at www.sussexgiving. org.uk/apply. To donate visit www.totalgiving.co.uk/appeal/sussexcrisisfund