A SENIOR councillor has told how he found himself stuck in Australia facing a two-week compulsory isolation period just hours after he landed to visit his son, daughter-in-law and granddaughter. 

David Wilson, one of the depute provosts of Inverclyde, who is in an at-risk group due to his age, admits he does not know when he will be able to get home.

The 74-year-old told the Tele he hopes to be able to get back by the end of this month, but has no idea whether that will be possible.

Mr Wilson, who has been staying in Brisbane but is also visiting the Gold Coast, had planned the family trip for some time but had to call off activities that he'd planned before travelling.

David said: “I’ve got a superb family here who haven’t stuck me in a loft somewhere.

"I’ve not played as much golf as I intended to and I’ve not really gone swimming but other than that I've been able to do everything I wanted to do.

"We had a large dinner organised in Brisbane but we cancelled it because we felt it was not appropriate.

"It would have been wonderful, but we are being sensible.”

Mr Wilson says he is not sure when he will be able to return home.

He said: “We’re now in a situation where Emirates, who we flew with, have suspended flights to all countries apart from 13, which does include the UK.

"We are currently able to get home but at one stage it looked like all flights would be stopped. 

“I might well be here until Christmas.

"I don’t know what’s going to happen.

"Everything is up in the air, but this is a very serious event and I was appalled to see some people back home not taking it seriously.

“There is a major attitude problem in the UK.

"It’s an attitude where people think they are right, don’t like officialdom and can do what they want.”

Mr Wilson says he believes life will change for good once the crisis settles down.

He said: “After this is over, life will not be the same.

"The days of unlimited access all over the world will stop.

"You will not have freedom of movement like we’ve had, I don’t think.”

The councillor said he was impressed with how people had observed guidelines and believes the approach Australia has taken has led to less people contracting the disease.

He added: “People in Australia have taken this situation seriously and they closed the borders quickly.

"I think we were too slow in the UK.

“I go to the local mall to get my newspaper every morning and people see me and scatter.

"People are keeping their distance.

“You go to the supermarket and there are always wipes for the trolley.

"They are very organised."

Mr Wilson says everyone should be prepared to continue making such sacrifices in order to save lives.

He told the Tele: “You’ve just got to be sensible."