Southend Hospital's lead respiratory nurse is stranded in Egypt and pleading for help to return home.

Lisa Ward, from Leigh, took to social media pleading for help and urging Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab to take action and send a plane to rescue her and the rest of those stuck.

She, and 23 others, had been on a cruise ship.

Lisa was due to finish her holiday on Monday but the closest airport, Luxor, closed on Thursday. 

Save Southend NHS have also taken to social media echoing her cries, highlighting her as "one of the most experienced" respiratory nurse specialists that the hospital has. 

In a Facebook live video, by a pool at the hotel she is currently staying at, she said: "We’ve been to the Egyptian authorities en masse, all 23 of us with the tour guide, and they have no idea.

"Luxor airport closed in and out, and as much as it's bloody lovely it’s like a ghost town, actually.

"I wouldn’t mind if someone could post this on Twitter and tag Dominic Raab to get involved.

"The problem seems to be that Egypt Air that we flew out with with the 23 of us, we're hoping they will fly us back.

"I don’t know whether it’s money or not enough people. Dominic Raab or Boris, you could come and get us."

A spokesman for Save Southend NHS added: "Lisa is one of the loveliest and most experienced respiratory nurse specialists we have. She’s stuck in Egypt.

"Praying she makes it home soon. Sending our love and strength to her and her partner from all of us in Southend.

"Get her home Boris Johnson Prime Minister."

Ending her video, Lisa stated a number of other doctors and nurses from across the country had been on board the ship, currently docked in the city of Aswan. 

She said: "No panic, everyone is well. Everyone is really well looked after but nothing is being done to get us home and I never thought I’d say that.

"Get us home. There’s nurses, doctors, there’s lots of people on this boat who are probably needed to come home."