Stranded in China and no slow boat in sight!

THE volcantic activity in Iceland has forced five students and three members of staff from the School of Computing at North West College to ground in China - and they may not be able to fly home until April 28.

The contingent travelled out to the Orient part of a Bristish Council funded exchange visit, and had initially gone to North East China to the North Eastern University in Shenyang City for their study visit.

According to the Deputy Director at North West College here in Londonderry, Calum Morrisson, the group had pulled out all the stops to get to the airport and try and secure a plane ride home, but missed the gates by mere minutes, finding themselves among the first people to be stranded in teh orient, with not even a slow boat available to them to get them home again. If things don't go their way it could be close to the end of the month before they can board a flight home.

"They got as far as Bejing and I understand it they then thought they might have better chance to get to Europe if they changed and went to Shanghai, but they missed the deadline on Thursday.

"They had just gone through departures when British departures closed and they have been out there since it all started. They are now in a hotel in Shanghai," Mr Morrisson said.

They now face being stranded until April 28, although there is a possibility they could be home before that if airspace opens up and flights are laid on.

"There is a possibility they can get out earlier and we hope to get them out earlier," Mr Morrisson said, adding: "The College is keeping in close contact with them speaking to them a few times a day by email and telephone".

"They are coping well. I think first couple of days were hard on them, but they realise there are thousands of people like them all over the world, but it is still hard on them. We have provided funding for them so they are not going to be out of pocket. We are paying money into their bank accounts so they can access it with their cards so they have enough for necessities."

As well as the five students the Department head and two other staff members who were teaching are also stranded.

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