'She can't continue': Immigration officials block severely ill woman's return from Amsterdam

  • A woman with a dangerous neurological condition is stuck in an Amsterdam hotel room, unable to access medical help, after immigration officials blocked her return home, as ITV Meridian's John Ryall reports.

A severely ill woman from Hastings, stranded in Amsterdam after immigration officials blocked her from boarding a Eurostar home, fears she will die without urgent Home Office help.

Virginie Amirian has Neurological Lyme Disease, triggered by an insect bite in childhood.

Over the last two weeks, Virginie has suffered a serious of life-threatening fits.

Virginie has dual American and Belgian citizenship, so can spend only 180 days a year in the UK and needs to be abroad for the rest, despite having married her British husband Nicolas Amirian four years ago.

The couple have said they do not understand why UK Border Force blocked them at Eurostar Amsterdam, and that if they breached visa rules, it was unintentional.

The pair are now stuck in an Amsterdam hotel room without the medical assistance she needs.

Virginie's British husband, Nicolas Amirian, speaking to his mum on Facetime. Credit: ITV Meridian

Nicolas is Virginie's full-time carer. He and his family fear the situation might claim Virginie's life if they can't return home.

He said: "We just need to come home as soon as possible, that's my message. Especially for my wife, she needs the help and care from my family and support to keep her alive.

"She can't continue being here, it's too dangerous right now."

Nicolas' mother, Jocelyn Chambers said: "This will just worsen. The stress will just worsen her health and I fear that she might not make it back in time. It's that serious."

The couple are calling on the Home Office to intervene and get them home to Hastings. It's a call that's been backed by their MP, Helena Dollimore.

Over the last two weeks, Virginie has suffered a serious of life-threatening fits. Credit: ITV Meridian

The Labour representative for Hastings & Rye said: "Virginie's family have been in touch with me and I really sympathise with them. It's clearly a difficult situation that they find themselves in, stuck in Amsterdam.

"Virginie's health is clearly deteriorating. I raised this with the Home Office yesterday and I am pushing them for a response as soon as possible."

Two weeks now after being refused re-entry to the UK, Nicolas and Virginie say getting home cannot happen soon enough.

The Home Office has been contacted for a statement by ITV Meridian but has yet to respond.

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