Eight elderly British tourists are being kept in a German hospital after being struck down by a potentially fatal illness during a Rhine cruise.
Eight elderly British tourists are being kept in a German hospital after being struck down by a serious gastric illness during a Rhine cruise.
The rest of the 100 or so passengers aboard the Lady Anne are returning home, accompanied by a doctor.
The rest of the 100 or so passengers aboard the Lady Anne are returning home, accompanied by a doctor.
The ship has been moored at Boppard since Monday's sickness and diarrhoea outbreak, caused by the norovirus which can kill children and the elderly.
The ship has been moored at Boppard since Monday's sickness and diarrhoea outbreak, caused by the norovirus which is dangerous for the very young or old.
Operator The River Cruise Line said all passengers would be fully refunded.
Operator The River Cruise Line said all passengers would be fully refunded.
In total, 20 people were taken to hospitals in Boppard in western Germany and eight were deemed too ill to return to the UK on Wednesday.
In total, 20 people were taken to hospitals in Boppard in western Germany and eight were deemed too ill to return to the UK on Wednesday.
They will be assessed by doctors before being allowed to return home.
They will be assessed by doctors before being allowed to return home.
Picturesque valley
Picturesque valley
The rest of the passengers have now been allowed to leave the Lady Anne and will return home via Folkestone.
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.
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.
The norovirus can cause a fever, headaches and aching limbs but most people make a full recovery within 48 hours.
However, the very old and very young risk becoming dehydrated which may require hospital treatment.
A German health official said many of the holidaymakers were at least 70 years old.
The Britons had been on a five-day cruise along one of the most picturesque stretches of the Rhine valley in Germany.
The Britons had been on a five-day cruise along one of the most picturesque stretches of the Rhine valley in Germany.
The Lady Anne will be professionally cleaned to ensure the safety of future passengers, The River Cruise Line has said.
Apologies to passengers
Apologies to passengers
The Lady Anne will be professionally cleaned to ensure the safety of future passengers, The River Cruise Line has said.
Its next scheduled cruise has been cancelled and all staff and crew will be changed before it sails again.
Its next scheduled cruise has been cancelled and all staff and crew will be changed before it sails again.
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.
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.
"We will be arranging for a doctor to accompany our passengers during the journey to Folkestone.
"We will be arranging for a doctor to accompany our passengers during the journey to Folkestone.
"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."
"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."
Have you been affected by the issues raised in this story? Send your comments to the BBC using the form below:
Have you been affected by the issues raised in this story? Send your comments to the BBC using the form below:
In most cases a selection of your comments will be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below.
In most cases a selection of your comments will be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below.
