Hawick newlyweds' honeymoon cut short by Greece wildfires
Last updated 25th Jul 2023
A newly-wed couple from Hawick have revealed they're dream honeymoon turned into a nightmare when they were forced to flee their hotel on Rhodes, due to the wild fires ravaging the Greek island.
Ross and Ailsa Graham (pictured above) scrambled to safety after a giant ash cloud engulfed their resort.
But, after sharing a room with another couple for two nights, the relieved pair are now back home safe in the Borders.
"When we arrived (last Tuesday) we were made aware of the fires and told they were nothing to worry about," Ross told Greatest Hits Radio. "We were told it was contained and it was far enough away from us. And then, on Friday, we could see the helicopters and the planes going out to sea to get water to try to put out the blaze.
"Later that night, we started to feel our eyes burning and we were coughing quite a bit, as there was a lot of ash and smoke in the air."
The couple awoke to clear blue skies the following morning but, within half an hour, a huge ash cloud blocked out the sun.
Ross said: "We decided to go up to reception to see what was happening. They said that everything was fine and there was no need for us to evacuate.
"And then, within the time we were up there, we got a message saying we needed to evacuate, and we showed that to reception. But they were still saying: 'We are fine, we are fine.'
"We just took it upon ourselves to go back to the room and pack everything we could into our suitcases, and by the time we did that there were sirens going off from other hotels."
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More than 20,000 people have been evacuated from the island - mostly tourists - over the weekend.
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Recalling the chaotic scenes, Ross said: "We went out onto the main street and there were thousands of people; no-one knew where they were going, so we just kept walking and running.
"We went down onto the beach thinking that was far enough away, sat down, turned around, and there was the big black cloud of smoke coming closer and closer. So we just got up again and tried to get as far away as possible; it was absolutely terrifying."
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After walking for miles, the couple eventually got on a bus at another hotel and ended up sharing a room with another couple, not knowing how they were getting home.
But Ross said their thoughts are with locals who have lost their homes, and families travelling with young children.
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"We only had ourselves to look after, whereas there were people with kids - it really wasn't nice to see." But he added: "We're just glad to be home now, and hope everybody else gets back safe."
The couple thanked worried family and friends who checked in on them as news of the wild fires spread.
Ailsa said: "We had such a beautiful three days to start off the honeymoon of our dreams. Never did we think it would turn into a nightmare, spending the fourth day - my birthday - outrunning a fire.
"We have never felt more relieved, and even more lucky, to say although our honeymoon is cut short, we are safe and at home."
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