A British family left destitute by the bushfires that ravaged Rhodes has told their ‘rags to riches’ story thanks to the kindness of the Greek people.
Dean and Charlie Scoffins and their two teenage daughters were forced to sleep in a schoolyard after being evacuated from their Jet2 hotel in Pefkos in the south of the island at 3am as flames approached.
The family from Grantham, Lincs, couldn’t find a place in the sprawling basketball stadium used as an emergency shelter over the weekend and was left without shade in the 40-degree heat.
But after enduring ’36 hours of hell’, the Scoffins were treated to a ‘Premiership footballer’s lifestyle’ when they were invited by the tycoon’s owner to sleep on a £3.5 million catamaran – one of hundreds of friendly deeds of the people of Rhodes. to their British guests who are under fire.
Dean and Charlie, Scoffins with daughters Lucy, 18 and Lottie, 15, in Rhodes harbor
The Scoffins are seen from the heat after being evacuated
Lucy Scoffins aboard the £3.5 million catamaran offered as a sanctuary by its generous Greek owner
Catamaran is depicted in port
Local businessman Christoforos Charisis who told them that owners of luxury yachts in Rhodes marina offered their boats as emergency shelter
Rhodes fires, seen from the hotel where the Scoffins family stayed
Grateful Charlie Scoffins told MailOnline: ‘If it weren’t for the Greek people, we’d still be sitting in the sun in that schoolyard right now.
‘As soon as we got into trouble, it was the people of Rhodes who saved us.
“They got us out of harm’s way, gave us food and drink, and found us this wonderful place to stay.
“I can’t thank the Greek people enough. They did everything for us. I am just so grateful to them.
‘The boat owners gave us three nights on their beautiful yacht. Jet2 did nothing.’
The family had been enjoying two days on the beach at the Eagle’s Nest Hotel in Pefkos when they received an evacuation alert on their phone from the Greek government at 11pm Saturday evening.
Unable to sleep Dean went for a walk along the road past the hotel to find transport. There he discovered a Greek bus driver who had stayed up all night to bring stranded holidaymakers to safety in the north of the island.
Dean, a bricklayer, told MailOnline: ‘There was no plan from the hotel staff to get us out, so I went for a walk to find transportation.
“This bus stopped and I told the driver that my family was back at the hotel.
“The driver backed up half a mile and waited while Charlie and the girls packed everything up and ran downstairs.
“There was smoke everywhere and you could see the flames. The girls were really upset.
“That bus driver was our savior. Nobody paid him. He just drove around looking for people who needed help.’
The Scoffins were taken to Kleisto High School in Kallithea and were offered food and water.
But the building was full and they were forced to sleep on the concrete playground.
The next day they were transferred to the island’s basketball stadium in Rhodes Town, which had become the main crisis center.
Packed with stranded tourists, the family had to camp outside in the scorching heat.
But it was here that they were approached by local businessman Christoforos Charisis, who told them that owners of luxury yachts in the Rhodes marina were offering their boats as emergency shelter.
Here you can see the basketball court that used to be used to house evacuees
Christoforos Charisis, who organized the hunting accommodation for the Scoffins and a dozen other British families, today tried to play down the hospitality of the islanders
Scoffin’s family awaits the evacuation of their Rhodes hotel
Smoke rises from the hills near the Scoffins’ hotel
Dean, 43, explained: ‘It was literally rags to riches for us.
“We had had 36 hours of hell.
“We were homeless, had to sleep outside at night and then endure 40 degrees during the day without any shade.
“And then these nice people offered us to stay on their yacht.
“We have gone from penniless to enjoying the lifestyle of a Premiership footballer.
“The crew cooked for us and took care of us. They were great. We can’t thank them enough.’
The family has now been able to enjoy the last few days of their holiday sunbathing on the beach, swimming in the sea and enjoying traditional restaurants – before flying home tonight.
Daughter Lucy, 18, told MailOnline: ‘My friends back home are so jealous. They don’t want to hear about the fire, they want to fly to Rhodes to join me on the yacht!’
Sister Lottie, 15, added: ‘It’s great! We have our own bathroom and everything.’
Mr Charisis, who organized the hunting accommodation for the Scoffins and a dozen other British families, today tried to downplay the hospitality of the islanders.
He told MailOnline: ‘Yes, the people of Rhodes helped the tourists who were in trouble. But we only treated them the way we want to be treated ourselves. This is our nature.
The whole island depends on tourism. This is not why everyone here likes to help. But we want the English people to remember Rhodes in a good way. We want them to come back. We need them.’