An Oxfordshire-based travel agent helped a non-customer get home from Brazil after the worsening coronavirus crisis threatened to leave him stranded in the country.

Niall Douglas, managing director of Full Circle Travel in Wallingford, reached out to his local community on Facebook offering free coronavirus-related travel advice.

Among those who took up his offer of support was a local resident whose son was having difficulties getting home from Brazil.

His gap year travels had been due to end in June but were cut short when borders around the world began closing due to the escalating pandemic.

Even though the trip hadn’t been booked through Full Circle Travel, Douglas offered to help, researching flights, giving advice on airlines, routes and insurance and even checking in when the young traveller had returned home.

Praising Douglas’ services on Facebook, the mum wrote: “A big shout out and massive thanks to Niall Douglas from Full Circle Travel.

“Our son was on his gap year travels and in real danger of getting stranded in Brazil.

“Despite us not being a customer (or ever having met!), Niall has been amazing after I saw his post offering advice on here.”

Summarising the benefits of using a travel agent, she concluded: “I wasn’t involved in booking [my son's] original flights but maybe when this has all passed, and he can head off again, we can all think about choosing a local agent with real people who care, like the team at Full Circle Travel here in Wallingford.”

Speaking to Aspire, Douglas said he had been contacted by “multiple” people with travel-related questions.

“I wanted to help as I knew there would be many that would not be getting any help from other sources and also just because I wanted to do my bit as best I can,” he said.

“People have been so grateful and I do not want to criticise others but most have booked with big online companies who have not offered any help at all.”