Wigan widower back home after coronavirus ordeal

Alan Cunliffe joked that he would have “plenty of washing to do and much better telly to watch” now his isolation continues at home until next week.

The 82-year-old former builder was taking his first holiday alone since the death of his wife Mildred at the end of last year.

But what started as a relaxing way to ease the impact of bereavement turned into a nightmare, as first the H10 Costa Adeje Palace hotel in La Caleta was battered by a Saharan sandstorm and then was put into lockdown after an Italian guest tested positive for the highly contagious covid-19 which is now sweeping the world and claiming thousands of lives.

For the first three days, Mr Cunliffe was confined to his room with only basic foods passed to him through the door and the occasional phone call for company.

Then it was decided that it would be safe for people to return to the public areas, including the restaurant and pool, so long as they wore masks and gloves and used disinfectant gel, although he was concerned that not everyone was abiding by the rules and quite a few people near him had been coughing.

The scores of British guests had been told it was likely they would have to stay at the hotel until March 9 to ensure that no-one else had come down with the virus before they left.

But then on Sunday they were informed that if they tested negative for covid-19, they would be taken home on a 2pm flight to Manchester the following day.

For a dozen of the party, the swab test results did not come in time and they were left behind. But for the majority, including Mr Cunliffe, the negative tests had come back by mid-morning Monday.

They were put by Jet2 on a Boeing 747 and, on arrival at Manchester, disembarked in a separate area reserved for private jet passengers and celebrities so they weren’t mingling with other customers, before a taxi delivered Mr Cunliffe to the front door of his home in Balcarres Avenue, Whelley.

He told the Wigan Observer: “I am absolutely delighted to be home. I’ve never been gladder to be a Wiganer!

“It has been an experience and a half, that’s for sure.

“There were times when it was worrying at the hotel. Part of it was the disorganisation, particularly at the start, and the lack of information about what was going on. Later on I had the extra problem of my hearing aids not working which was a nightmare.

“But the hotel people did get their act in order eventually and I can’t praise Jet2 enough. On the way home we were treated like royalty - although, understandably, from another planet at the same time. We were on a jumbo jet and taken through the VIP airport and lounge.

“Once we had taken off it was so nice to remove the masks and gloves. They were very uncomfortable and the masks were probably breeding germs of their own.

“The staff around us were masked of course but in the end there was no-one in that hotel who tested positive so far as I can see, apart from the Italian doctor who had already left when he fell ill. I feel sorry for that dozen of guests who were left behind.

“The taxi driver dropped me off at my door and it was wonderful to be home.

“I rang Mildred’s sister at the top of the street and told her that I was back but they weren’t to come near because I’ve now got to self-isolate until March 9. But they’ve left me some groceries and more will be delivered to the door.

“It’s much nicer being holed up here than in the hotel, even if the weather isn’t so good. I’ve got plenty of washing to be getting on with and the telly here is so much better. Boredom over there was one of the biggest problems, especially as I didn’t get anything to read, despite being promised something.”

Mr Cunliffe said he now feared for the future of the hotel which, he said, must have lost a lot of money through the crisis, and would now have to shut down for a thorough deep clean.

He has managed to fix his hearing aids now he’s back home and said he was grateful to those family and friends who had kept him going with phone calls.

Mr Cunliffe said: “I have learnt a lot from all this, and the main thing is that if something like this happens, you should sit back, don’t panic, and calm down. The world is still going on.”