Milton Keynes woman has been trapped at sea for three months during lockdown

University graduate Jade Thompson from Newport Pagnell was working as a sports coach on a cruise ship when the coronavirus chaos broke out.

The ship is currently on the ocean between Bali and Jakarta. It has been trying since February to disembark its crew, but it's been refused entry to six different ports, including South Korea, Singapore and Shanghai.

For some of this time, Jade has been under total isolation in her cabin, with meals delivered to her door.

The company chose to stop sailing due to Covid-19 on February 24, she said.

"Our home port was Singapore and the majority of our guests were Chinese. The suspension was only supposed to be temporary.

"However, as the pandemic unfolded, ports began to refuse entry for cruise ships. A few weeks into the quarantine all non essential employees were told their contracts had been terminated with immediate effect."

Now, with all ports severely restricted and airports cancelling flights, Jade's prospect of disembarking seems more remote with every day that passes.

"I am now on day 83 stuck at sea. All I want to do is come home. I miss my family in Newport Pagnell," she said.

"There are 20 British people on my ship and many more located elsewhere in the world. It felt like the media and the governments only placed attention on the cruise ships when they had guests onboard. Not enough is being done for the crew."

But Jade said the cruise company was looking after her well and medical facilities, food and accommodation are all supplied.

"I don’t feel my company has let me down as we have a great executive team onboard looking after us.

"However, we still can't get home. The hours turn into days, days turn into weeks and weeks turn into months with no end in sight. I have even been in touch with the British Embassy who explained that as long as we are being taken care of, our repatriation is in the hands of the cruise industry. It is their responsibility to get us home.

"There was hope to be able to potentially be repatriated from Manila in the future and today it was announced Manila airport has shutdown. It’s just very frustrating."

Due to the social distancing onboard the ship, all venues are closed, masks must be worn everywhere and crew and guests must follow the 6ft apart rule.

Jade said: "Times are tough for everyone and I know there are many more in much worse situations that my own. I just want to help spread awareness of the situation.

"I see many people on social media complaining about the UK. restrictions but I would do anything to be able to be home safely with my family and the comforts of home food, a bath and my own bed."