Widow and child of Maltese Covid-19 victim fly back from India

3 May 2021

The widow and daughter of the Maltese man who died from Covid-19 in India arrived safely in Malta on Sunday evening.

Ivan Barbara, 47, was cremated on the couple’s 19th wedding anniversary after falling ill while in India to adopt their daughter.

He died on Friday after developing complications minutes before he was set to board the air ambulance sent to fly him back to Malta. Reportedly, Barbara’s ashes have been brought to Malta.

Two other Maltese couples who travelled to India to adopt were also flown in safely by Maltese authorities.

Last week

Maltese COVID-19 patient dies in India before being evacuated

Barbara travelled to India with his wife Rosanne at the beginning of April to finalise the adoption procedure and both were infected by the virus soon after, Malta’s High Commissioner to India Reuben Gauci told Newsbook.

Soon after his death, it was decided that Barbara would be cremated in India since the World Health Organisation stipulates that Covid-19 victims have to be buried or cremated at once.

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