A BRAINTREE woman who has been stranded in South America for more than two weeks is pleading with the Government to help get her back to the UK.

Rebekah Stone, of Boleyns Avenue, says she is desperate to fly home and return to her job as a healthcare worker as soon as possible.

The Brit, who is 49, provides specialist care for an elderly lady who is disabled and requires help with many day-to-day chores.

Rebekah travelled out to Peru on March 2 and had been due to fly back from Puerto Maldonado two weeks later.

But with the coronavirus pandemic spreading across the world and Governments putting tough restrictions on travel, Rebekah is now one of thousands of British citizens stranded abroad.

She said: "I was told to fly to Lima because I couldn't get any other flights.

"When I arrived in Lima it was manic because there were so many people confused as to what to do.

"I was told bluntly there were no flights out of Lima for 15 days, which at that point, I cant say I was shocked.

"I was then told to get into a hotel quickly as there were hundreds of people needing rooms so I went to the hotel attached to the airport.

"They said I had to book a room for 15 days otherwise I wasn't allowed to stay there."

Rebekah agreed to stay at the Wyndham costa del sol Lima airport hotel but says it is costing her 114 dollars a night to stay.

She has since been placed in quarantine along with many other hotel guests due to the Covid-19 pandemic and is unable to leave the complex.

She says hotel bosses have employed armed guards to stop movement in and out of the building and is only being provided with one meal a day.

Despite contacting the British Embassy and Foreign Office, Rebekah remains stuck in Lima and is pleading with the Government to organise a flight for nationals stranded in the city.

She added: "I feel abandoned by our Government.

"I had always thought that they would come and rescue the British Nationals quickly, but it seems not.

"I’ve filled in every form sent to me so everyone knows I’m here. I’m a healthcare worker needing to get back to my job."

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office says more than 1,000 Brits are stranded in Peru and it was keeping those who have asked for help up to date through emails.

It says it has requested three flights back to the UK, as well as three internal ones in Peru to get all citizens to Lima.

However, the Foreign Office says those most at risk from coronavirus will be given priority.

A spokesman added: "The first repatriation flight for British people from Peru landed in the UK on Thursday and we thank the Peruvian Government for their support.

"We are working urgently with the Peruvian authorities, international governments and airlines to organise more flights and continue to prioritise places for the most vulnerable. Our staff are supporting hundreds of British people across Peru."