A WIRRAL man who has been stuck on an island in the Philippines for four weeks has been told to stump up £1,000 to be rescued.

University graduate Joe Caswell left the UK on January 27 to journey across South East Asia for seven months. He travelled with two friends, having long planned the trip to celebrate finishing their degrees.

The group reached Manilla on March 4 and started to travel from island to island. But when they reached the island of Siargao and checked into their Airbnb in the main town of General Luna, they discovered that the whole island was going into lockdown due to the global coronavirus pandemic.

The owner of their digs told them that they would have to move out immediately as he was closing to protect his family.

Desperate for more information, Joe and friends quickly found out that all ferries, boats and domestic flights to any of the major cities would be suspended indefinitely and that the island would also be going into a quarantine period of up to a month.

With no access to WiFi, the friends spent the next day driving round the town negotiating with local people for a place to stay and looking for the British Embassy for guidance.

After 12 hours they eventually managed to find somewhere to stay but information from the foreign office was proving a greater challenge.

It wasn’t until March 28 that they finally received direct contact from the embassy, offering some reassurance.

Wirral Globe: Joe Caswell (centre) was on the trip of a lifetime but coronavirus turned it into a nightmareJoe Caswell (centre) was on the trip of a lifetime but coronavirus turned it into a nightmare

Now Joe, 24 from West Kirby, has been offered a flight back to the UK from Manilla with Philippines airlines but must pay £1,000 for it to happen.

The group is being rescued from the island of Siargao and taken to Manila before a flight will bring them back to Heathrow airport.

Speaking to the Globe, Joe said: “This trip was something I was thinking about ever since leaving sixth form and for four or five years I’ve been thinking about it.

"I quit my job and planned to complete my trip in Australia and settle down there. I am very sad but hopeful that I can pick up where we left off when this all blows over.”