Family 'lost everything' after being 'given 48 hours to get on a plane'

A dad is celebrating his success after he was forced to flee his home as a child. Francisco Carrasco, who lives in south Liverpool, came to the UK from Chile when he was just 10 years old.

The artist arrived in the country with his brother, sister, mum and dad - the latter of who had spent the last two years of his life in a concentration camp. Francisco’s dad, Oscar, was a member of the Popular Unity government when the 1973 Chilean coup d'état happened.

He was taken on September 16, five days after the coup - which would eventually see President Salvador Allende take his own life. Francisco, 61, who lives by Lark Lane, previously told the ECHO: “I was very young when I left Chile, I had never been on a plane before.

"It was a harrowing experience because my dad spent nearly two years in a concentration camp so we never saw him. When we came to the UK, we lost everything. We were given 48 hours to leave the country - so it was a heavy experience for a ten-year-old.”

It would take months before Francisco and his family would become aware of exactly where Oscar was. Francisco's mum would often have to travel to different parts of the country to see her husband and, at one point, Oscar was located 1,000 miles away in the Atacama desert.

Oscar was eventually taken back to Santiago Tres Alamos' concentration camp and put on a plane on February 22, 1975. Francisco and his family were also on that plane and they arrived in the UK the following day.

Not wanting to forget his roots, Francisco founded the arts and cultural organisation LUMA Creations. The company’s La Feria Festival has now been confirmed to return to Liverpool for an entire week - in its sixth annual celebration.

This year's event focuses on the rich cultural tapestry with organiser Francisco promising the “city will come alive with music, dance, theatre, art, and food, offering an immersive experience embodying the essence of Latin America, across a series of iconic venues”.

He said: “There's something for everyone at this year’s festival - whether you're into music and dance, food, or captivating theatre and art, we've got it all. We’re thrilled with the amazing line-up our team has put together, and we know you'll be just as excited. If you think a Latin American festival isn’t for you, prepare to be surprised.

"In light of recent events, it's more important than ever for us to join together to celebrate culture and diversity. We look forward to seeing all the people from Liverpool and beyond unite next month, to enjoy and embrace the incredible local and international talent at La Feria." You can read the full line-up of events here.