A trip of a lifetime across South America has turned into a nightmare for a Ceredigion couple who are trapped in a hotel in Peru after the country closed its borders in reaction to the coronavirus crisis.

Ffred and Meinir Ffransis, of Llanfihangel ar Arth, are among 400 UK tourists stranded in Peru after it closed its borders on Sunday with little notice in a bid to contain the coronavirus, and flights were suspended.

Mr Ffransis, who has a heart condition and is in the high-risk category for Covid-19, said the couple are “stuck in our hotel” in the city of Cusco in the Andes and “can’t go anywhere”.

The couple are currently on a dream holiday, having been travelling through South America for a month.

“We are only allowed to go out to get food, money or medication,” 70-year-old Mr Ffransis said.

“No one can get in or out of the country; there are police-enforced curfews, public transport has been shut down.

“We have enough money to stay here if this goes on longer than 15 days, which it will, but there are young people in youth hostels in a far more precarious situation.”

Cymdeithas yr Iaith said it is “increasingly concerned about the health” of Mr Ffransis, who is one of the movement’s former chairs.

Mr Ffransis suffers from Left Ventricular Systolic Disorder which affects the heart, and has to take medication and have regular blood tests.

The disease also makes it difficult for him to breathe and, because Cusco is high up in the Andes at 11,200 feet above sea level where the air is thin, it has a major impact on him.

Bethan Ruth, chair of Cymdeithas, said: “Meinir and Ffred are prominent members of Cymdeithas yr Iaith, both of whom have been tireless campaigners for the language for many years.

“The situation in Cusco is probably deteriorating rapidly; the army on the streets prevents people from leaving their hotels, there is not much food left in the supermarkets and tension is increasing between the tourists and the people who live there.

“We therefore urge the Welsh Government to take the lead on this issue and take responsibility for the Welsh who have been left in such a difficult position.”

After criticism that flights to rescue UK tourists had not been arranged as other countries had done, the UK Government said rescue flights for tourists trapped in Peru will begin this week.