A Sydney mother who was trapped in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) for five months has finally arrived back in Australia. Melissa Inkster, 44, landed in Sydney on Wednesday night after a gruelling journey involving four flights, following weeks of cancellations and bureaucratic hurdles.
Ms Inkster travelled to the DRC on March 16 to help set up a charity with her fiancé Joseph in the Tshopo province. Just eight days later, the country shut its borders due to the COVID-19 pandemic, leaving her separated from her two young sons, Max and Tomas, who remained on Sydney's northern beaches.
During her time stranded, Ms Inkster faced a series of traumatic events, including a miscarriage after fainting, a robbery, and a knife-point confrontation. Her life savings were drained, and she relied on a fundraiser that raised over $15,000 to secure a business-class ticket home.
After the DRC lifted international border restrictions in early August, Ms Inkster flew to the capital Kinshasa. She finally boarded a flight on Monday, transiting through Frankfurt before arriving in Sydney. She is now in mandatory hotel quarantine for two weeks before she can reunite with her sons.
In a video filmed during her journey, Ms Inkster emotionally thanked friends, family, and the Australian public for their support. 'The good thing is I can't wait to see my kids Max and Tomas and just hug them,' she said. 'I just don't know when I'll let them go.'
