Suffolk twins separated during Covid-19 pandemic enjoy 'emotional' reuinion at St Lucia beach resort

A pair of Suffolk twins who had not seen eachother for two years as a result of the pandemic have been reunited at a resort in the Caribbean.

Marie Hunter, who lives in Bury St Edmunds, and Ixcheal Cook, who currently lives in north-west Florida, caught up at Sandals Halcyon Beach Resort in St Lucia in February.

Both couples knew they were going away on holiday, but the husbands, Jason Hunter and Chris Cook, weren't aware they would be reunited until they met.

The trip was perfectly timed for the 47-year-old twins following what had been a difficult two years.

Ixcheal and Christoper's son broke his back and was paralysed after a skateboarding accident at the start of the pandemic and Marie and Jason had been unable to travel to the USA to help due to restrictions.

This, along with celebrations of Jason's 50th birthday and Ixcheal and Christopher's 19th wedding anniversary, made the reunion all the more special.

Jason also surprised his wife with a helicopter transfer on arrival, something she has always wanted to do.

Marie, who works as a nail technician and owns her own business, said: "It was due to Covid that we hadn't seen each other for so long, but also Chris's timings were never in synchronisation with our visits which had to incorporate school holiday time.

"We have not seen Chris for about 6 years I believe. The most awful thing was not being able to visit during Covid when Chris and Ixcheal's son, Elis broke his back. It was an awful time and we felt helpless.
"He is currently recovering from an infection relating to his injuries and thankfully, I am currently in the US to help as it is around the clock care for 6 weeks and Chris is working overseas."

Ixcheal, who works as a massage therapist in Navarre, Florida, said: "Covid was a big part of us not seeing each other, and it kept us away from each other at a very trying time.

"My son was paralysed right at the beginning of the pandemic, and my sister wanted nothing more than to be able to come over to help, but she couldn’t.

"The reunion was quite emotional, as I hadn’t seen any of my family since my son broke his back and completely severed his spinal cord in a skateboarding accident."