South Shields adventurer stranded in Bolivia finally returns home to family

An expedition leader who was stranded in Bolivia amid the coronavirus lockdown has returned home to his family in South Shields.
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Steve Berry spent almost three weeks in a hotel room in La Paz, after his flight home was cancelled due to the coronavirus travel restrictions.

The grandfather-of-three left the UK on Friday, February 28 to lead a charity trek in Ecuador and travelled onto Bolivia to go climbing with a friend.

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Steve Berry back home with wife Jennie (right), daughter Kirsti (left) and granddaughters Lacey (second right) and Kirsti.Steve Berry back home with wife Jennie (right), daughter Kirsti (left) and granddaughters Lacey (second right) and Kirsti.
Steve Berry back home with wife Jennie (right), daughter Kirsti (left) and granddaughters Lacey (second right) and Kirsti.

After a period of uncertainty, last week the Foreign and Commonwealth Office launched a £75million operation to charter flights from destinations where commercial routes have been severed due to the pandemic.

A special flight was chartered to pick up tourists in La Paz, Bolivia, and the Ecuadorian cities of Quito and Guayaquil en route to London Heathrow on Saturday, April 4.

Steve finally touched down in South Shields on Sunday, April 5, to be welcomed back - from a safe distance - by wife Jennie, daughter Kirsti and granddaughters, Lacey and Kirsti.

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He has not been able to see eldest daughter Stacey and her family due to the social distancing measures.

Steve (left) in La Paz with fellow Brit Alex Britchford from Northamptonshire.Steve (left) in La Paz with fellow Brit Alex Britchford from Northamptonshire.
Steve (left) in La Paz with fellow Brit Alex Britchford from Northamptonshire.

“The girls were very excited and relieved to have me back,” he said.

“It was emotional, there’s no place like home.”

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Over the last week, as lockdown measures heightened in the city, Steve described his experience as like being “in the Big Brother house”, with people only allowed to leave the hotel once a week to get essential supplies – after they had undertaken a temperature check.

Padlocks on the gates of Steve's hostel in La Paz.Padlocks on the gates of Steve's hostel in La Paz.
Padlocks on the gates of Steve's hostel in La Paz.

More than 200 people signed a petition set up by Steve’s daughter to help Brits who were stranded abroad and friends and family raised £1,200 to fund his flight home.

“It’s been a whirlwind experience,” he said.

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“I’m so grateful to everyone who has given me a huge amount of support, at times I have really needed it.

“Perhaps when this is all over we can reevaluate our lives and realise what is important – family, friends, unselfish behaviour towards each other and the environment which sustains us.”

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