The Ellerbeck family watched the flames closing in on their hotel (Picture: Nicola Ellerbeck/Reuters)
A family of four – including two kids aged six and eight – have spoken of their shock at watching the kids’ swimming pool and slides burn down in the Rhodes hotel they were staying at.
The family, from Huntingdon, described the hellish scenes they witnessed from their room at the Mitsis Rodos Maris resort hotel – situated six miles from where the fire first broke out – as that of a ‘horror movie’.
Solicitor Nicola Ellerbeck explained how her husband Matthew, together with their kids eight-year-old Harry and six-year-old Millie, watched in horror as the children’s pool located outside their hotel bungalow room burnt down, blowing ash all over their room and engulfing their clothes in the smell of singed smoke.
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‘It was absolutely terrifying,’ Nicola told Metro.co.uk.
‘We were trying to keep calm for the sake of the kids but when the hotel staff told us to put on our facemasks and cover our mouths with towels, it felt extremely worrying.
‘We could see the trees and sun loungers outside our room burning and heavy smoke damage around the hotel and everyone was panicking. It was as though we were in a living nightmare.’
Told to evacuate the hotel, the family – who had arrived on July 19 for a two-week holiday – joined thousands of others who were fleeing the area in the seaside village of Kiotari.
The family’s fellow holidaymakers watched as thick wildfire smoke drifted over the beach (Picture: Nicola Ellerbeck)
They found themselves walking over two hours to get away from the smoke that was billowing behind them.
‘The smoke and fire was frighteningly close and everyone was panicking,’ added Nicola.
‘As we were given no indication of anyone coming to our rescue, we just kept racing ahead. We were walking in 40 degree heat and it was beyond horrific.’
For her youngest daughter, in particular, it was a terrifying experience as she was crying ‘not only because she was scared but because her legs were hurting too’.
‘Eventually the army trucks picked us up and took us to a different hotel where we were left to sleep on dirty floors,’ explained Nicola.
Fire damage can be seen at the opposite side of the hotel’s pool (Picture: Nicola Ellerbeck)
Although the family were able to grab sun chair loungers to rest on, she pointed out the floors were rammed with people, there was no space to move and very little information given.
Nicola said: ‘It was very hot, there was no air conditioning and although food was available from the hotel buffet it was mobbed.’
The following day the family were moved to an evacuation centre, where they spent last night holed up in a room at a local school.
‘It was awful. Never mind the fact it was over 40 degrees but we were plunged into darkness because of a power cut. I couldn’t believe it could get any worse,’ said Nicola.
Nicola Ellerbeck, her husband Matthew, and children eight-year-old Harry and Millie, 6, are determined to continue with their holiday (Picture: Nicola Ellerbeck)
The family – who are determined to stay on holiday – has now moved hotels to the north of the country where they have been reassured it is safe.
Although they have nothing but praise for the locals who tried to comfort them and provide information, they are outraged by the lack of care from easyJet.
Nicola said: ‘Communication with the airline has been atrocious. As our package holiday provider they have been totally unsupportive. They made empty promises that never came into fruition and lied to us constantly.
‘The places we were moved to were unsanitary and they never gave us any support whatsoever. They made an already awful situation pretty unbearable.’
EasyJet has been contacted for comment.
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‘The smoke and fire was frighteningly close and everyone was panicking.’
