9.1°C Vancouver

Jan 29, 2020 9:40 PM -

Expat family expecting baby soon hopes Britain can get them out of China

Share On
plane-arranged-to-fly-160-canadians-out-of-wuhan
Tom Williams along with his wife Lauren and son James are seen in this undated handout photo. Tom Williams is a British expat who has been living and working for about five years in Wuhan, which is the capital of Hubei province in China. His wife Lauren, who is from Langley, B.C., is about 35 weeks pregnant, he said in a telephone interview from Wuhan. He also has a two-and-a-half-year-old son, James, who was born in White Rock, B.C. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO, Tom Williams *MANDATORY CREDIT*

A pregnant Canadian woman, her young Canadian son and Tom Williams, the child's British father, are the latest to share their concerns about getting out of Wuhan, the Chinese epicentre of an outbreak of a new strain of coronavirus.

Williams says his wife is 35-weeks pregnant and his son is under three years of age, and the whole family is waiting for word about whether they will be allowed to depart Wuhan later today on a flight organized by the British government.

As they were waiting, the Canadian government announced it has arranged a plane to fly 160 Canadians out of Wuhan -- but details are still being worked out and there's no word if Williams and his family will be on it.

An outbreak of the novel flu-like respiratory illness began in Wuhan late last year, infecting more than six-thousand people and spreading to other countries, including Canada, although health officials here say the risk of transmission remains low.

Latest news

17-year-old-killed-in-dirt-bike-and-car-collision-in-nanaimo
BCOct 28, 2026

17-Year-Old Killed in Dirt Bike and Car Collision in Nanaimo

A 17-year-old has died following a road collision in Nanaimo on Vancouver Island. According to the RCMP, the crash occurred at around 6 p.m. Tuesday in the 2200 block of Extension Road in the southern part of the city, involving a dirt bike and a car. First responders rushed to the scene and made extensive efforts to save the teenager’s life. However, the victim succumbed to serious injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. Police said the driver, who was the sole occupant of the car, remained at the scene and is cooperating fully with the investigation. Following an initial investigati
bjp-nominates-hardeep-singh-puri-for-rajya-sabha-by-election-in-madhya-pradesh
IndiaOct 28, 2026

BJP Nominates Hardeep Singh Puri for Rajya Sabha By-Election in Madhya Pradesh

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday nominated Hardeep Singh Puri as its candidate for the Rajya Sabha by-election in Madhya Pradesh. Puri was first elected to the Rajya Sabha from Uttar Pradesh in January 2018. His current term is scheduled to end on November 25, 2026. The Rajya Sabha seat in Madhya Pradesh fell vacant following the resignation of former Union Minister L. Murugan. The Election Commission has announced a by-election for the seat, with November 2 set as the last date for filing nominations. The BJP's Central Election Committee has approved Puri's candidature. According
BCOct 28, 2026

Boat Catches Fire in Vancouver’s False Creek, Two People Escape Unharmed

A boat caught fire in False Creek in Vancouver late Tuesday night. Police said they received a report of the incident at around 11:30 p.m., following which Vancouver Fire Rescue and Coast Guard crews quickly arrived at the scene to help extinguish the blaze. According to Constable Darren Wong, an initial investigation suggests the fire was caused by a technical malfunction in a generator on board the boat. Fortunately, both people aboard the vessel safely escaped the incident without sustaining any injuries. Police clarified that the incident does not appear to be suspicious or the result of a
cross-border-tobacco-smuggling-racket-busted-in-canada-four-individuals-face-serious-charges
CanadaOct 28, 2026

Cross-Border Tobacco Smuggling Racket Busted in Canada, Four Individuals Face Serious Charges

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), in a joint operation with the RCMP in Saskatchewan, has uncovered a cross-border tobacco smuggling operation and laid serious criminal charges against four individuals. According to the CBSA, the group allegedly used the railway network to smuggle approximately 116,000 kilograms of illegal tobacco from the United States into Canada and between different provinces between October 2020 and April 2024. All four accused are residents of Ontario: 47-year-old Harminder Grewal of Brampton, 49-year-old Avikesh Sharma of Mississauga, 48-year-old Johnny Gamboa o
WorldOct 28, 2026

At Least 64 Killed in Spain High-Speed Train Collision

At least 64 people have been killed in a devastating collision involving two high-speed trains in Spain. Rescue workers continued searching through the wreckage on Wednesday for more bodies. The incident marks the country’s second major deadly rail accident this year. Following the crash, injured passengers and survivors were evacuated from the trains. Hundreds of ambulances, helicopters and other emergency response vehicles were deployed at the scene. According to preliminary information, a private Iryo train had stopped near Toledo after a signalling fault, reportedly on the instructions o

Related News