British dad uses holiday hire car to rescue holidaymakers trapped by Rhodes wildfires
- 9 months ago
A dad has been hailed a hero after he risked his life to save people from the raging wildlifes in Rhodes during an eight hour operation.
Jonathan Lewis, 62, made six return trips in and out of the danger zone in his hire car - helping several families flee to safety.
He had been holidaying with his family on the Greek island when the fires broke out at the beginning of last week.
Around 19,000 people have been evacuated from the popular holiday destination, which has since been engulfed by flames.
Thick plumes of grey smoke billowed from behind the mountain close to the resort Mr Lewis and his family were staying.
As the wildfire moved towards the coastal regions of the island on Saturday (22/07) - Mr Lewis decided he had to help.
The dad-of-two from Attleborough, Norfolk, said: "People were saying 'it's only a bit of smoke' and not to worry.
"But I thought it was more than just a little smoke. And I'm not much of a fan of sunbathing anyway, so I thought I would see if I could help."
Heading over the mountain towards Lardos in his rental car, Mr Lewis said it was like driving into "the end of the world".
As he drove deeper into the smoke, he could make out beach bars engulfed in flames and more and more families moving away from burning hotels and bungalows.
He stopped to pick up a fleeing family and drove them over the mountain to find refuge in a hotel.
Mr Lewis said: "There were no rooms, but there were seats, phones, internet and power.
"I saw some people getting their luggage and dropping it as they ran to the beach as the brush at the side caught fire."
Mr Lewis said he saw tourist boats back onto the shores to take people to safety.
The dad explained: "I picked up an Austrian man and he just burst into tears.
"He told me he had put his wife and children on the boat as he watched it disappear into the smoke that sat on the surface."
Mr Lewis described the "incredible" heat, saying that his rental car's thermometer had climbed to 45 degrees.
He added: "The cyclical wind fanned the flames and made the fire so much stronger.
"It was absolute chaos."
After two hours of the ordeal, Mr Lewis said the army arrived, "but nobody seemed to be in charge."
He said: "Buses were stopping and queuing a mile down the road from where all the people were.
"So I kept weaving through car parks, getting as many in the car as I could, taking them up the hill and going back.
"I just wanted to help people get out. It's common sense."
Between noon and 8pm on Saturday, Mr Lewis said he made six round trips, picking up people along the way.
At 1am on Sunday morning, Mr Lewis and his family were evacuated from their resort and luckily were able to find a new hotel room for the rest of their stay.
They are now awaiting a flight home.
Mr Lewis' actions have since been hailed as heroic.
One said: "What a hero! Well done. Man of the moment."
Another said: "Top bloke for jumping in and helping those families out. At the front of the pack, yet again leading by example."
Jonathan Lewis, 62, made six return trips in and out of the danger zone in his hire car - helping several families flee to safety.
He had been holidaying with his family on the Greek island when the fires broke out at the beginning of last week.
Around 19,000 people have been evacuated from the popular holiday destination, which has since been engulfed by flames.
Thick plumes of grey smoke billowed from behind the mountain close to the resort Mr Lewis and his family were staying.
As the wildfire moved towards the coastal regions of the island on Saturday (22/07) - Mr Lewis decided he had to help.
The dad-of-two from Attleborough, Norfolk, said: "People were saying 'it's only a bit of smoke' and not to worry.
"But I thought it was more than just a little smoke. And I'm not much of a fan of sunbathing anyway, so I thought I would see if I could help."
Heading over the mountain towards Lardos in his rental car, Mr Lewis said it was like driving into "the end of the world".
As he drove deeper into the smoke, he could make out beach bars engulfed in flames and more and more families moving away from burning hotels and bungalows.
He stopped to pick up a fleeing family and drove them over the mountain to find refuge in a hotel.
Mr Lewis said: "There were no rooms, but there were seats, phones, internet and power.
"I saw some people getting their luggage and dropping it as they ran to the beach as the brush at the side caught fire."
Mr Lewis said he saw tourist boats back onto the shores to take people to safety.
The dad explained: "I picked up an Austrian man and he just burst into tears.
"He told me he had put his wife and children on the boat as he watched it disappear into the smoke that sat on the surface."
Mr Lewis described the "incredible" heat, saying that his rental car's thermometer had climbed to 45 degrees.
He added: "The cyclical wind fanned the flames and made the fire so much stronger.
"It was absolute chaos."
After two hours of the ordeal, Mr Lewis said the army arrived, "but nobody seemed to be in charge."
He said: "Buses were stopping and queuing a mile down the road from where all the people were.
"So I kept weaving through car parks, getting as many in the car as I could, taking them up the hill and going back.
"I just wanted to help people get out. It's common sense."
Between noon and 8pm on Saturday, Mr Lewis said he made six round trips, picking up people along the way.
At 1am on Sunday morning, Mr Lewis and his family were evacuated from their resort and luckily were able to find a new hotel room for the rest of their stay.
They are now awaiting a flight home.
Mr Lewis' actions have since been hailed as heroic.
One said: "What a hero! Well done. Man of the moment."
Another said: "Top bloke for jumping in and helping those families out. At the front of the pack, yet again leading by example."