Jersey teens ‘scared and stranded’ in South America

Thursday 19 March 2020

A pre-university adventure has turned into a nightmare for four Jersey teenagers stranded in South America with no way home, after Peru closed its borders this week to contain the spread of covid-19.

Lucas Burton, Christian Jones, Harvey Le Sueur and Fergus Taylor – all 19-years-old – are trapped on the other side of the world during the global health crisis brought on by corona virus.

The teenagers had saved up to travel around South America before going to university in September, but their planned return journey to Jersey on Wednesday (18 March) was called off due to Peru closing its borders just days earlier.

Pictured: The islanders are stranded in Peru after its borders shut this week.

With the British Embassy closed, and no response from the Foreign Office in London, their only apparent option to get back would be a rescue flight costing thousands of dollars per passenger.

Speaking to Express about the ordeal, Lucas’s mother, Lynda Burton said that all four of the boys “worked really hard to save up” for the trip. 

She said that, on finding out that the South American country was closing its borders from midnight on Monday (16 March), just two days before the teenagers were going to make their way back, she called and woke them up and “they arrived at the airport at 05:00 to be met with absolute chaos.”

Lynda continued: “They queued for eight hours to get to the ticketing desk only to be told that there were no seats left on any flights leaving Peru and that the airport was closing. As they were leaving the airport, riot police were arriving."

Currently, the only option that has been discussed for the stranded islanders is a rescue flight, but Lynda says that this will come with a hefty price tag.

Pictured: A rescue flight has been considered, but it costs thousands of dollars per passenger.

“We have heard overnight that a rescue flight is being talked about, however the cost of this is US$3,000 - $3,500 per person one way and they need a certain number of people to register for it before it will be considered. 

“Obviously a lot of the travellers are young and simply cannot afford the cost of the fare and have been told by their insurance company that they won’t cover this cost.”

Lynda says that she and the other parents have been lobbying the UK government to get help “but they simply do not seem interested.”

She added: “Although we understand that these are unprecedented times, it doesn’t help four, scared, 19-year-old boys far away from home with no clarity on when they can leave.” 

Jersey’s Government today made an announcement regarding assistance for islanders to get back home, simply instructing islanders currently overseas to get in touch with the External Relations department.

The announcement explains that the UK Government is responsible for getting any British nationals back to home soil, including British passport-holders who are resident in Jersey. 

External Relations say that they are working with the UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office to ensure that consular staff in London and associated networks are aware of cases where Jersey residents have been stranded overseas.

The Minister for External Relations Senator Ian Gorst said: “This is an unprecedented situation that is causing a significant increase in requests for consular assistance worldwide. Officers from the Jersey External Relations team are already working with individuals and families who have been affected.

Pictured: External Relations Minister Senator Ian Gorst.

“External Relations has good channels of communication with the Foreign & Commonwealth Office for raising consular cases. Understandably, there will be Jersey residents who are looking to find routes to return to the island. The UK authorities will explore all possible options to get British nationals home, but this will take time.

“I would strongly encourage everyone affected to follow UK travel advice and to register with the FCO Consular Directorate and the local British diplomatic mission. Non-British Jersey residents should contact the appropriate diplomatic mission in London or overseas. Anyone who has concerns or queries about affected individuals should contact External Relations via the departmental mailbox: externalrelations@gov.je”.

The Government has also stressed that anyone coming back to Jersey from an affected country need to comply with the current health advice on self-isolating for 14 days after their return.