Heartbroken Leeds woman has not seen fiance for five months due to coronavirus travel restrictions between EU and USA

Sarah Luke, 27, of Rawdon, fell in love with South African born USA resident Darren Lawson, 36, while both were working at a summer camp in upstate New York in the summer of 2017.

Darren got down on one knee and popped the question while the couple watched the sunset on a beach in Naples, Florida, in October 2019.

Sarah said their long distance relationship continued as she worked for a luxury apart hotel company in Harrogate and Darren managed a summer camp in America.

Sarah had been due to travel to New York to start working for a summer camp company, but all temporary work visas in the USA have been banned until the end of December due to Covid-19 restrictions.

The couple have not seen each other since meeting up in London on January 26.

Sarah, who has been living in lockdown with her family in Rawdon, said she could travel to America if the couple were married.

Sarah, who has joined Facebook group 'Couples Separated by EU/US Travel Ban', said: "It is awful. I'm so stressed with the whole situation - I'm barely eating or sleeping.

"I don't know if I will see him again this year. I'm completely heartbroken to be apart. I just want my normal life to start.

"I would give anything to be able to sit and watch a Netflix movie together...He is my best friend, I miss him a lot."

They had hoped to wed in Johannesburg next October, but have cancelled that wedding date.

Sarah said: "To be able to be together we are going to have to get married. As soon as we can be together we are going to get married.

"This came out of nowhere, We don't know what next year is going to be like, if it's going to happen again, we just don't know."

Sarah said Darren has lived in America for 17 years the situation is complicated by the fact that his citizenship application was paused due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

She said: "I know there are people losing (their) lives and in the grand scheme of things it is not that important, but with the economy starting to open up, we are being completely left in the dark with regards to the travel ban between the USA and Europe.

"Tourism is so different to love. We are not wanting a holiday, it’s not a holiday to us. We would just like the freedom to be able to see our loved ones."