Just over a month later, on 3 March, the island went into a 21-day “circuit-breaker” lockdown to limit the spread of the virus after a spike in cases, with the government believing the “index case” (patient zero in the current wave) was most probably a ferry worker.
As of Friday afternoon, there were 704 active Covid cases on the Isle of Man, with 12 people in hospital, one of whom was in intensive care.
The admission that the island’s ferry service had probably brought back Covid has caused anger on the Isle of Man, with some asking why ferry workers were exempt from the strict 21-day quarantine enforced on all other arrivals.
BESOTTED
Girlfriend of jet skier who crossed Irish Sea to reach her says ‘he’s my hero’ and begs ‘let him out of jail for Xmas’
Ellie Cambridge
18 Dec 2020, 14:27
THE girlfriend of a jet skier dad who crossed the Irish Sea to reach her has called him my hero as she begs for him to be let out of jail for Christmas.
Jessica Radcliffe, 30, says she was bowled over by Dale McLaughlan s gesture of love when he made the 25-mile journey to visit her on the Isle of Man.
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He was pictured as he arrived on the Isle of Man last week
WATER ROMANTIC
Moment jet ski Romeo arrives after 4.5hr journey across Irish Sea to see girlfriend with only 10 MINS of fuel left
Updated: 15 Dec 2020, 21:15
THIS is the moment a lovesick Romeo arrived after an epic 25 mile journey across the Irish Sea on a jet ski to see his girlfriend - with only 10 MINUTES worth of fuel left.
Dale McLaughlan, 28, spent 4.5 hours on the machine having never used one before after setting sail from the Isle of Whithorn, Wigtownshire, on Friday.
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The Ayrshire roofer made the bonkers trip to see his girlfriend
The roofer, from Irvine, Ayrshire, thought the trip would only take him 40 minutes - but spent hours crossing the Irish Sea due to bad weather.
Updated: 16 Dec 2020, 21:28
A DAD who crossed the Irish sea from Scotland to the Isle of Man on a £5,000 jet ski to see his girlfriend “can’t even swim”, his family revealed today.
Lovesick Dale McLaughlan, 28, had just ten minutes of fuel left when he arrived at the island s Ramsey harbour on Friday afternoon after a bonkers 4.5 hour trip.
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McLaughlan was caged for four weeks and may miss Christmas with his kids
The Romeo roofer was jailed on Monday after he admitted arriving unlawfully in breach of Manx Covid rules in a desperate bid to see new girlfriend Jessica Radcliffe.
He will spend four weeks locked up for the stunt - and miss Christmas with his two children in Irvine, North Ayrshire.