Sick Brit evacuated from virus-ravaged cruise identified as former policeman

A British man who was evacuated from the MV Hondius after falling sick amid a suspected outbreak of the hantavirus has been named. Martin Anstee was an expedition guide on board the cruise ship. He was removed from the vessel alongside two other people this morning and flown to Europe for treatment. Mr Anstee was removed from the vessel along with a Dutch colleague, 41, who was the ship’s doctor, and a 65-year-old German passenger, the Telegraph reported. His wife Nocila told reporters he appeared to be on the mend following “a very traumatic few days”. “The fear with this virus is it can deteriorate very quickly so it’s been a bit up and down for him,” she said. “I don’t believe he’s in imminent danger now, but it was horrible. Mr Anstee’s family were relieved that he had been evacuated from the ship and taken to Holland for treatment, as early treatment is important for recovery from the virus, she said. “We’re just glad the authorities managed to get to Cape Verde to evacuate them, so it’s just relief at the moment,” she added. Mrs Anstee said she found out her husband was ill on Sunday. At first his sickness had been mild but his symptoms became “more serious” she said, adding that his condition seemed to have now stabilised. The Atlantic Odyssey voyage departed from Ushuaia in Argentina on April 1 with several expedition crew members, including Mr Anstee. His role saw him help guide guests around some of the remotest islands in the world , where the boat stopped off. His work took him to South Georgia, Gough Island, Tristan da Cunha and St Helena. Mr Anstee, who lives on the outskirts of Milton Keynes, served as a police officer for 33 years, before being moved to regional special operations and serving his final two years in the Falkland Islands, Bedford Today reported. He began working with Oceanwide Expeditions through contacts made in the Falklands. He is a keen nature photographer and snapped rare birds, including the Wilkins’s finch, the Inaccessible Island rail and the Nightingale Island finch, captured while he was exploring the Tristan da Cunha islands. He and his wife, who is also a former Bedfordshire Police officer, have travelled widely, from Zimbabwe to the polar regions where he previously worked as a guide on an expedition. Mrs Anstee said her husband loved his job and she hoped he was able to recover and go back to work soon.