Worksop teacher finally returns home after 61 days detained in Italy

Quinn Paczesny was detained along with two friends - also teachers - in Florence in August.

The Worksop man developed coronavirus symptoms around four weeks after arriving in the country on July 5 to support struggling schools through the worst of the virus.

After testing positive Quinn and friends Rhys James and Will Castle were told they could not return to their Florence apartment and were taken to the hotel where they remained confined for two months.

Quinn, speaking to the Guardian during his confinement, told how the trio tested positive for Covid-19 six times - meaning they could not be released even though they had not displayed symptoms since three days after their first test.

They were told the repeated positive tests were due to dead Covid-19 cells remaining in their systems.

During the ordeal Quinn spoke of terrible conditions at the hotel - describing the food as a ‘dire’ choice of ‘watery rice and ‘a slice of turkey if we're lucky’.

On Saturday Quinn flew back into London City Airport from Florence to be greeted by his family.

His return, along with that of Rhys James, came just days after Will Castle, 22, was allowed to fly home having provided two negative Covid-19 tests - as was required by Italian law to be released from quarantine.

The pair were allowed to return after Italian law was changed - allowing detained Covid-19 cases to leave isolation after just one negative test result.

Quinn’s dad Mark Paczesny, 55, described Quinn as ‘subdued’ - adding ‘it’s had an impact on him but we’re hoping he’ll return to his normal self’.

He said: “They weren’t allowed outside and confined to their rooms for 61 days.

“We were expecting him to be his normal self but he isn’t - but you have to remember that when we were in full lockdown here you could still go into your garden or out for some exercise.”

Quinn - who was greeted at home with a bottle of Proseco - now hopes to return to a school placement for the third year of his teacher training at the University of Lincoln.

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