81-year-old man left stranded in empty house after coronavirus scuppers family’s New Zealand emigration plans

Charles Scanlan, 81, had shipped all of his belongings and was set to join his wife, Sheryn, and daughter, Rachel, to start his new life on March 19 when he was turned away from Heathrow Airport because the borders had just been closed to stop the spread of Covid-19.

The family – who were well-known for their business Blooming Good Nursery and attending the market every Saturday for a number of years – are now desperate to be reunited.

“For seven hours I was at Heathrow fighting, begging, cajoling,” said Charles, who lives in Burgess Hill.

“I had all the documents you could name with me, and I even offered fingerprints but they would not let me on the plane.

“So I came back home and I didn’t even have a key to get in the door because I had ‘gone forever’.

“I eventually got in. it must have been 8 o’clock in the evening. I collapsed on the lounge floor, fell asleep, woke up about 4am freezing cold.”

The family, decided to move to New Zealand permanently at the beginning of this year, but their plans were brought forward when Sheryn – Charles’ wife of 25 years – received a call in November informing her that her father was terminally ill and she left immediately.

Their 27-year-old daughter Rachel, who attended Plumpton College and founded her business in 2013, joined in December as she and Sheryn are both of original New Zealand citizenship.

Charles stayed behind to arrange the sale of their Burgess Hill house and for the removal their belongings.

Unfortunately Sheryn’s dad died in March, just two days after Charles tried to board the plane to join them.

“If I had been on that plane 24 hours earlier I would’ve been in New Zealand living a happy ever after,” said Charles.

“What I’ve been through has been awful. At this moment it’s a very desperate situation and we haven’t got anywhere.

“The house is up for sale and all the rooms are empty. What I did to survive was get one of those fold up beds.

“I’ve converted the lounge into a bedsit. I’ve got a bed, a coffee table, a TV, a computer, phone and that’s it. I then went out and bought cups and saucers, knives and forks, saucepans to survive on.”

Since being unable to board his flight, Charles has made several attempts to contact Immigration New Zealand in order to get an exemption.

As he was not travelling with his wife he didn’t meet the criteria, and no exception was granted.

Sheryn and Rachel, who live in Masterton, have been warned not to fly back to the UK to accompany Charles back to New Zealand because they could get caught out in transit or by changing flight availability.

Charles has also written a letter to the High Commission of New Zealand in London and sent four detailed letters to New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern, but has had no responses.

Sheryn said: “Needless to say, we’re all devastated.

“Charles has a ‘visitor visa’ but apparently that is not valid under Covid-19 border restrictions.

“In the meantime, he has applied for a residential visa, partnership visa (at a cost of £2,500) and several other requests for travel to NZ but to date, none of these have been approved.”

Despite Charles not being allowed in, the family have heard that American film crew have been allowed to enter the country to film the new Avatar film.

“If someone could explain to me the logic behind it then I’d take it in,” said Charles.

“I’m 81-years-old, I’m in the danger zone. I’m in my twilight years and they’re going to put a death warrant on me for what?

“This is the worst experience I’ve had in my whole life. I never dreamt I’d be punished so severely and unfairly. I’ve done nothing wrong. What have I done wrong?

“The odds on me seeing Sheryn and Rachel alive are against me. If my daughter and wife don’t see me alive ever again that will absolutely destroy them.”

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