A PENSIONER has spoken of his ordeal, trapped on a cruise ship where half the passengers contracted the winter vomiting disease.

Doug Walters 75, of Hatherley Crescent, Sidcup, returned 12 days ago from a trip on the Marco Polo, round the Scottish Isles.

But the ship was struck by the very contagious norovirus, which left more than half its 769 passengers sick.

Mr Walters said they knew nothing about the illness onboard until the brother of one of his companions rang saying he had heard news that 30 passengers were ill and one had died.

Nevertheless, passengers were allowed to leave the ship and Mr Walters said several were sick in the street and other places.

He said: “We weren’t told what was going on for another 24 hours, by which time seven people had been removed to a local hospital and extra doctors and nurses from onshore had been called in.”

Surrounded by sick people, Mr Walters said: “I was petrified of getting it.

“I have a heart condition and asthma. People were begging to get off.”

But he did not get sick and his money has now been refunded.

He said: “I was very lucky.”