Published: Tuesday, 1st December, 2009 9:00am

Cruise tragedy widow's ordeal

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A DEVASTATED widow has made a lonely return home after her husband died on a Golden Wedding anniversary holiday from hell.

What began as a dream cruise around the Canary Islands for Amellia and William "John" Findlay, ended with heartbroken Amellia helplessly witnessing her husband of 50 years die stranded in a foreign hospital.

Amellia was due to fly back yesterday (Monday) as the Reporter went to press, ahead of her beloved husband's body.

The couple's insurers had ruled their policy invalid, preventing John, 74 - who suffered a dreadful run of ill health - from being brought home to be cared for here in his final days.

John had spent more than four weeks in two hospitals in the Canaries.

For Amellia, 74, who never left his side, the agonising weeks of confusion and worry reached a dark climax last Tuesday when John passed away.