South Shields adventurer stranded in Bolivia due to worldwide coronavirus pandemic

Just a few weeks ago expedition leader Steve Berry of Central Avenue, was celebrating reaching the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro with his daughter.

An experienced climber, in 2017 he became one of just a few hundred people to have summited the highest peaks on each of the world’s seven continents.

Now speaking to the Gazette from La Paz, Bolivia, the dad-of-two has revealed he has been left “frantically” trying to find a flight home as countries take drastic measures to halt the spread of coronavirus.

The 64-year-old left the UK on Friday, February 28 to lead a a group of people in a high altitude trek in Ecuador.

He arrived in Bolivia on Tuesday, March 10 to meet a friend of his who he had arranged to do some climbing with and was due to fly home on Tuesday, March 24.

He says that after a great trek he had “absolutely no idea what was about to unfold”.

On Thursday, March 12, President Jeanine Áñez announced the ceasing of all flights to and from Europe, as well as rigorous control measures at the country’s borders.

The measures are expected to be in place until at least March 31.

As of Thursday, March 19 there are 228,273 cases of Covid-19 worldwide and more than 9,000 people have died.

Click here for an interactive map showing the spread of Covid-19 across the UK

In response a number of countries have imposed travel restrictions and closed their borders entirely in attempts to slow the spread of the virus.

“Due to the hysteria caused by coronavirus they have shut the airports down. People have been frantically trying to change their flights, me included,” said Steve, who is staying at the El Rey Palace Hotel in La Paz.

“I think I’m the only one here, the government is telling hotels to close and has imposed a curfew from 5pm-5am – no one is allowed outdoors.

Despite managing to book a flight home for Wednesday, April 1, Steve fears if the situation worsens airports could remain closed for longer.

He continued: “I believe things could turn nasty, jobs are being lost due to a ban on tourists coming in. Once the lack of food becomes an issue anything could happen.

“It's worrying - this is having a massive negative economic impact throughout the world.”

Steve was planning to travel to Sajama National Park, near the Chile border to wait out the next two weeks but now it’s unclear whether public bus stations are open.

He has been in contact with his family back in South Shields and has urged them “not to worry too much”.

“I'll always stay positive no matter what,” he said.

“I just wish people would calm down and look after one another, this could have so easily have been avoided worldwide had folk not acted so selfishly.

“Let's hope people take note and think about others for a change.”