(Spirit Lake)– A local woman was among some band members from Augustana College stranded in Egypt.
Laura Ayres is the daughter of Carol Ayres and Rick Ayres of Spirit Lake. Carol tells KUOO news Laura was among a group of the college students who flew out of Egypt Sunday evening. They flew to Amsterdam where they spent the night. They were enroute from there to Minneapolis this (Monday) morning, and were scheduled to fly into Sioux Falls this (Monday) evening.
Carol says she was greatly relieved when Laura emailed her this morning telling her she was in Amsterdam.
Carol says she was in regular contact with Laura while she was in Egypt as she had a cell phone with her. Carol says Laura always told her she felt safe. But Carol says things got scary Friday when the country shut down communications. Carol says Laura was finally able to get through again Saturday (our time) via text to tell them she was safe and that they had been moved to a hotel in a safer location.
Carol says Laura told her the only time she really felt scared was while they were in the Cairo Airport. She says Laura said it was chaotic as people were scrambling trying to get out of the country.
Carol thanks the community for its thoughts and prayers during the time Laura and the other Augustana students were stranded in Egypt.
