Traumatized British tourists can finally return home today. The couple have told how they had to leave Rhodes after finding themselves on the path of the fire that is ravaging the Greek island.
• Also read: Fires in Greece: Almost 2,500 people evacuated on the tourist island of Corfu
• Also read: Fire in Rhodes: the ruined vacation of thousands of evacuated tourists
Ali and Paul Simpson, from Canterbury in Kent, told The Mirror newspaper they heard the huge flames “crackle” behind them before they were rescued by the army.
Another British family filmed their spectacular escape from the flames. As she crosses the sea in a speedboat, a helicopter flies over the boat to break through a large wall of smoke and fire.
AFP
They say they believed death was chasing them as they walked the beach with thousands of other terrified vacationers.
Ali and Paul Simpson had been on a day trip by boat along the southern bay of Rhodes with another couple when they were engulfed in the flames.
“It was absolutely horrible,” Ali said in an interview with The Mirror. “We were on a boat heading back to our hotel but it was on fire. We could only walk on the beach for three hours to get away.”
AFP
After covering several kilometers on Rhodes Bay Beach, the soldiers began their rescue operation.
Rescue flights for holidaymakers trapped in Rhodes only began landing in the UK on Monday.
Wildfires continue to ravage parts of the Greek island.