Get you up to speed: Brits stuck in Tenerife flood break bus sunroof with hammer to escape | News UK
British couple Albert Irvin and Chloe Wyman escaped a flooded Tenerife shuttle bus after smashing through the sunroof, aided by a truck driver during Storm Therese.
Storm Therese prompted local authorities in the Canary Islands to activate emergency plans and cancel outdoor events due to significant flooding earlier this month.
Emergency plans were activated in the Canary Islands following Storm Therese, which caused disruptions including road closures and the cancellation of outdoor events.
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A British couple has recounted their terrifying escape from a flooded airport shuttle bus in Tenerife. Chloe Wyman and Albert Irvin found themselves trapped when the vehicle became stuck in rapidly rising water during Storm Therese on March 24.
As the storm brought heavy rainfall and flooding to the Canary Islands, emergency services activated response plans, closing roads and cancelling outdoor events. Albert, 29, had noticed the shuttle was heading towards an underwater underpass, and warned the driver not to proceed. He said, “The driver went under the bridge, and it was completely flooded. For some strange reason he tried to go through it.”
With water quickly filling the bus, Albert used a hammer to smash through the sunroof. He said, “If we didn’t find that hammer, we would have drowned.” After helping Chloe and two other passengers to safety, Albert jumped into the water to rescue Chloe after she fell in. Fortunately, all four passengers and the driver escaped unharmed.
Chloe, 24, expressed her distress, stating, “I’m a bit traumatised, I think.” She added that the ordeal has affected her mental health, complicating what was meant to be a holiday getaway. Despite the challenges, they both managed to stick out the trip in Tenerife.
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Brits trapped in Tenerife flood forced to smash through bus sunroof with hammer | News UK
A British couple have spoken about their terrifying experience escaping a Tenerife airport shuttle bus after it became stuck in floodwater.
The Canary Islands were hit by significant wind, rain and snow earlier this month as Storm Therese battered the Spanish archipelago.
Emergency plans were activated, while outdoor events were cancelled and several roads were closed.
Chloe Wyman and Albert Irvin were caught up in the middle of the bad weather as they travelled on the transport shuttle on March 24.
Albert, 29, said he had already spotted the vehicle was heading for an underpass that was clearly underwater.
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He said: ‘The driver went under the bridge, and it was completely flooded. For some strange reason he tried to go through it.
‘Next minute my partner was screaming, and we had to get out. The driver kept trying to open the door and we told him not to as it would flood more.’
With muddy water rising around the bus, Albert grabbed a hammer attached to the sunroof and smashed through it.
He continued: ‘If we didn’t find that hammer, we would have drowned.
‘We could only stand on the roof – I don’t know what would have happened.’
The forklift driver helped Chloe to escape first, before helping out two other passengers.
When Chloe turned to help him onto the roof, she fell into the water. Albert jumped in after her, and the pair successfully swam to safety.
All four passengers and the driver managed to escape unharmed.
Chloe, 24, said: ‘I’m a bit traumatised, I think.
‘I’ve got mental health issues, and I’ve lost my medication, so it’s hard.’
She added: ‘We’ve ended up sticking it out, but it’s made the holiday a bit rubbish.’