Young Sleaford woman faced being homeless and stranded in Australia due to coronavirus lockdown

With flights severely limited in and out of the country, Debra Smart even put out an appeal on Facebook to anyone who may have friends and family who could offer shelter for her 25-year-old daughter Ellie.

Debra explained that former Kesteven and Sleaford High School student Ellie and her friend are five months into a year’s stay down under and have been living in a hostel in Melbourne.

She said: “She has been doing two jobs - working in a shoe shop and in a bar, but both have closed down now because of the country going into lockdown on Tuesday and she has no income. I have forwarded her some money but the hostel is closing down on Friday and that is why I made my appeal.”

She said other people staying at the hostel had already been leaving as their year’s visa was almost up and the UK government announced this week that UK nationals currently abroad on trips should make their way home as soon as possible.

Debra said: “Ellie has been searching for flights and contacting the British Consulate, but they have just said she should just keep looking for flights. There are no flights. She paid for one flight and then it was cancelled. All the planes are so busy. I was on the phone for two hours trying to get through to the British Consulate.

“I was in a real state of panic, knowing she had nowhere to live and nowhere to go. On Monday we were Facetiming and she and her friend were upset, but now we have finally managed to get some plans in place.

“Ellie has managed to get a stay in an AirBnB and can self isolate for two weeks and then, through a friend of a friend from just outside Melbourne, a woman has offered to drive in and collect them both and give them somewhere to live until they can get home on a repatriation flight, but I wonder whether she would be safer staying there.”

Debra commented that she had received a reply to her Facebook post from someone who could have accommodated Ellie in Sydney, but the state borders have been closed and she had no way of getting there.

Thankful for this latest offer of help, she said: “It is the kindness of people that make you proud. These people are taking in strangers and the lady was willing to take Ellie in as of now, but Ellie was worried that she could bring an infection in from staying in the hostel and so she found the Air BnB first but will go to stay with this lady if she canot get a flight before.”

The UK government has taken contact details and will let the family know if and when a flight is available.

Anyone else in a similar situation should contact the British Embassy on 0207 0081500.