A group of elderly British tourists has been struck down by a potentially fatal illness on a Rhine cruise in Germany.
Eight elderly British tourists are being kept in a German hospital after being struck down by a potentially fatal illness during a Rhine cruise.
Sixteen people have been taken to local hospitals at Boppard and 23 are having treatment on board the Lady Anne, with symptoms of sickness and diarrhoea.
The rest of the 100 or so passengers aboard the Lady Anne are returning home, accompanied by a doctor.
German doctors said the illness had been caused by the norovirus, which can kill young children and the elderly.
It has been moored at Boppard since Monday's sickness and diarrhoea outbreak, caused by the norovirus which can kill children and the elderly.
Leicestershire-based tour operator River Cruise Line said all passengers in hospital were recovering well.
Operator The River Cruise Line said all passengers would be fully refunded.
Medical assessment
In total, 20 people were taken to hospitals in Boppard in western Germany and eight were deemed to ill to return to the UK on Wednesday.
They will be assessed by doctors before being allowed to return home.
Picturesque valley
The rest of the passengers have now been allowed to leave the Lady Anne and will return home via Folkestone.
Twenty-three had been confined to their cabins, where they received treatment from paramedics, while the remainder stayed in the on-board lounge.
A German health official said all the holidaymakers were at least 70 years old.
A German health official said all the holidaymakers were at least 70 years old.
Those in hospital are expected to rejoin the Lady Anne on Wednesday morning.
The Britons had been on a five-day cruise along one the most picturesque stretches of the Rhine valley in Germany.
The firm said those passengers well enough would return to the UK on Wednesday, and the remainder would be assessed by doctors to determine when they could come back.
The Lady Anne will be professionally cleaned to ensure the safety of future passengers, The River Cruise Line has said.
Insurers are being contacted to make arrangements for the care of those who cannot return straight away.
Apologies to passengers
The Britons were on a five-day cruise along one the most picturesque stretches of the Rhine valley in Germany.
Its next scheduled cruise has been cancelled and all staff and crew will be changed before it sails again.
German authorities said the Lady Anne would remain moored at Boppard until further notice.
In a statement, the company said: "Our passengers, crew and staff who are on board the Lady Anne are now able to get off the ship and doctors have confirmed that they are fit to travel and we are making arrangements for them to return home today.
'Excellent work'
"We will be arranging for a doctor to accompany our passengers during the journey to Folkstone.
River Cruise Line said the local authorities had thoroughly inspected the ship and now given it the all clear.
"We would like to again express our gratitude for the excellent work of the German paramedics and offer our apologies to all those directly and indirectly affected."
The Lady Anne will be professionally cleaned to ensure the safety of future passengers, the company added.
The vessel will not depart for a cruise scheduled on Wednesday, and all staff and crew will be changed for the next cruise.
Senior staff from the head office of River Cruise Line - based at Market Harborough - have travelled to Germany.
A company spokesman said: "We would like to thank the excellent work of the German paramedics who have provided, and continue to provide, valuable medical care and support to our passengers.
"We offer our apologies for all those directly and indirectly affected by this incident. Our priority continues to be the provision of all necessary support to the customers and staff on board the vessel."
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