'BEYOND A JOKE'
Brit stranded on coronavirus cruise says ‘I’ve never felt less loved by my own country’
A BRITISH tourist stranded on a coronavirus-hit cruise ship in Japan has slammed the UK government for not bringing him home.
David Abel, who has been isolated aboard the since Feb 5, said he’s “never felt less loved by my own country.”
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The number of those infected by the deadly virus on board the luxury liner, which is docked in Yokohama, has reportedly jumped to 355 from 70 overnight.
However, David, who has not tested positive for the bug, has blasted UK authorities after 400 American passengers were rescued and taken home by the White House.
The Brit holidaymaker, from Oxfordshire, has been uploading a video diary online since he was quarantined earlier this month.
In his latest video, he said: “Don't you want the English people home?
“I am always proud to be British but this now - it's gone beyond a joke, I've never felt less loved by my own country.
Don't you want the English people home?
David Abel
“The people that are listening, I know you love us ... I thought the UK would be as quick as the USA. But it just shows we're wrong.
“UK government don't you want your country people British people home? Are you closing the borders because you don't want us home?”
The clearly emotional Brit added: “The message that we are seeing is that you're closing your borders to us, you want to keep us out. We are literally being treated like trash.”
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Early this week, he posted a photo of his and his wife's breakfast and captioned it: "First meal in 18 hours.
"We have now anchored and on our second cruise in Japanese waters. It is going to be tough on rationed food, and with no alcohol!
"No services onboard the ship now. How the crew are going to cope with this beats me. This is a huge challenge for Diamond Princess.
"We are out at sea now converting sea water into drinking water. Ship was running low on water for showers etc."
Photographs and video posted on Twitter by a passenger showed masked health workers clad in blue plastic gowns walking down empty corridors on the Diamond Princess.
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The trapped passenger also posted images showing views of deserted lounges and a barren deck.
Carnival Japan, the local unit of the British-American cruise operator, said on Tuesday the turnaround of the ship had been delayed by about 24 hours.
The company was not immediately available for comment on Wednesday.
On Tuesday, the firm said that cruises scheduled to depart from Yokohama and the western port of Kobe this week would be cancelled because of delays related to virus checks.
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