Brits inches from death tell of terrifying 3-hour escape from 'crackling' fires
Traumatised British tourists flying back home today told of how they had to run for their lives for three hours after being dumped in the path of the fire.
They said they could hear the huge flames “crackling” behind them before they were rescued by the army.
One British family filmed their dramatic escape from the flames as they motored across the sea in a speedboat, a helicopter flying across a great wall of smoke and fire in the background.
They felt death was closing in on them as they made their way across the beach with thousands of other fleeing holidaymakers terrified for their lives.
Ali and Paul Simpson, both 42, a couple from Canterbury in Kent, had been on a boat day trip along the bay in southern Rhodes with another couple, when they became trapped.
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Tourists spoke of running for their livesAli said: “It was absolutely awful. We were on a boat and going back to our hotel. And literally our whole hotel there was flames , flames and we just had to run on the beach for three hours.
“We ran and we ran. We were petrified. In the end we jumped in an army truck when they said ‘Jump in, we will take you to somewhere safe.
“There were people walking in the pitch black with their children using their mobile phone torches to find their way.”
They were on the boat with Kim Gravenor, 51, and Martin Garbett, 52, from Louth in Lincolnshire, who shared video of their dramatic escape across the water.
Tourists were evacuated along the beach
All the while smoke and flames rose up“We were just going round the bays, like Lindos and Pefkos," they told the Mirror.
"We could see the smoke further down the coast but instead of dropping us off somewhere safe, the boat driver decided to take us straight through the smoke back to our hotel. I was gobsmacked.
Brits Ali and Paul Simpson fled from the flames (Phil Harris)
Swiss family Bodea mum Anca and kids Adam and Cassia waiting in the departures lounge at Rhodes international airport after evacuation from the fires (Phil Harris)“We could taste the smoke. He was going fast and the spray was coming up.
“Then there was this helicopter right next to us picking up water. I could see the pilot! He was looking at us as if to say ‘what an earth is that small boat doing out here!’
“It was massive and only about 100 yards away. It was terrifying. There was four of us on the boat and the driver who said he had 20 years experience.
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Parts of the island have been ravaged by fire (AFP via Getty Images)“I could not believe he was taking us back through this smoke and then went by our hotel and dropped us off at a beach in the path of the fire.
“Once on the beach we were told to get walking quickly. There were thousands of people coming along the road.
“We could hear the crackling of the fire behind us. We were being chased by the fire. I really thought we could have died then.
“We were running, everyone was running. It was absolutely the worst experience of my life.”
A burnt car sits near the village of Kiotar (AFP via Getty Images)He also got in the army truck, with a canvas room, but said they were still scared after the soldiers said they had to turn around and take them somewhere safer.
Speaking as he was about to get on a plane home, he said: “I am just so relieved to be going home."
"We went straight back to hotel by taxi, we were seeing quite a lot of smoke and ash. Went up to the third floor and all I could see was flames. It was just smoke, fumes. The prevailing wind was towards us. we have only got a couple of options. There was a lot of talk of evacuation by boat."
Flights rescuing British holidaymakers in Rhodes begun arriving in the UK on Monday morning as wildfires continued to ravage parts of the Greek island.
People have complained about a lack of information from travel companies on how the incident will affect them, whether they are currently in the country or due to fly out to the affected areas.
Below is a round up of what different travel firms have said about what customers should do.
Jet2
Jet2 announced it will operate three repatriation flights from Rhodes to bring holidaymakers back to the UK. They will take hundreds of people to Manchester, Leeds Bradford and Birmingham on Monday evening.
It comes after a flight, carrying 95 passengers, landed at Leeds Bradford Airport on Sunday evening. The company has "significantly increased" the number of its staff on the island.
It has cancelled all flights and holidays due to depart to Rhodes up to and including Sunday July 30 and has contacted customers with regards to potential refunds.
Rhodes International Airport is full of people waiting to leave the island (Phil Harris)TUI
Three repatriation flights landed in the UK overnight, with further plans to bring more people home "as soon as possible".
Tui said it had cancelled all flights and holidays to Rhodes up to and including Tuesday July 25, with passengers receiving full refunds. Those due to travel on Wednesday July 26 can change to another holiday or cancel free of charge.
It said customers currently in Rhodes will return on their intended flights home. The firm said more than 300 members of staff are at the affected part of the island, urging customers to keep in touch with them.
EasyJet
EasyJet announced it would operate repatriation flights to bring home British holidaymakers trapped on Rhodes.
Two rescue flights, an A320 and an A321 aircraft totalling 421 additional seats, will fly from Gatwick on Monday, and a third flight will operate on Tuesday. Nine flights already operating between Rhodes and the UK will also continue alongside them.
Flights are still operating for customers booked to travel to or from Rhodes before July 29, but if they would like to change their plans, customers can change the date of their flight or request a flight voucher.
Holidaymakers have been flown back to UK airports (ZENPIX LTD)Thomas Cook
Thomas Cook is offering to cancel and issue a full and swift refund to those due to travel to Rhodes on Tuesday, should customers no longer wish to travel.
It earlier announced it had cancelled all holidays to Kiotari and Lardos - the areas most at risk - up to and including Monday July 31, and would be in touch to offer full refunds. Holidays in popular resorts including Faliraki, Kallithea, Ixia, Ialysos are continuing.
British Airways
British Airways said it was still operating flights to Rhodes as normal.
However, customers currently on the island needing to come home early can change their return flight free of charge, and anyone travelling out from the UK in the next week can postpone their flight to a later date.
The firm has put a larger aircraft on the next flight from the island to accommodate customers who need to return earlier than planned.
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