Wolverhampton woman lands back in UK after being trapped on coronavirus cruise ship

Judith Glover is finally home after a two-week ordeal on board the Zaandam, and then its sister ship the Rotterdam.

The Zaandam was left stranded at sea after being turned away by several South American countries due to concerns over the outbreak.

Four people died on board, including British man John Carter, 75.

Healthy passengers, including 72-year-old Ms Glover, from Merry Hill, who was on the trip of a lifetime with a friend, were transferred to the Rotterdam. No-one had been on dry land since March 14 in Chile.

The ships were finally allowed to dock in Florida after President Donald Trump intervened amid initial confusion.

Nine people on board tested positive for Covid-19 and 189 reported flu-like symptoms. Sick passengers were taken off the ships first to get treatment.

Ms Glover was put onto a charter flight and finally landed at Heathrow this afternoon, she confirmed to the Express & Star

Meanwhile, other passengers spoke about their ordeal after landing.

Rodger Robertson, 72, of Worcestershire, said: "Humanitarian grounds went out of the window, the Americans being the Americans. Eventually they had to capitulate."

Asked how he thought the ships were treated, he replied: "Not very well."

His wife Anne, 65, said the captain and his crew did "everything they could" to arrange medical evacuations for those who were seriously ill, but "nobody would open their doors, which was really sad".

Morven Rae, 70, from Kenley, Surrey, said: "We felt very sorry for the people whose families had died and the countries that didn't allow them to be airlifted off bear some responsibility for that."

But her husband Ian, 73, praised the efforts of the cruise line in how they looked after their guests.

He said: "It was very well organised considering the difficulties they had. They did an amazing job. We had food, we were locked in our cabins but we were safe."