British Tourists Use Hammer to Escape Flooded Minibus in Tenerife
Two British holidaymakers have recounted a harrowing experience after becoming trapped in a minibus during catastrophic flooding in Tenerife, resorting to using a hammer to break free from the submerged vehicle.
Traumatic Ordeal for Couple on Holiday
Albert Irvin, 29, and his partner Chloe Wyman, 24, from Feltham, were on an airport transfer shuttle bus shortly after arriving in Tenerife on March 24, 2025, when the vehicle became stranded in rapidly rising floodwater in an underpass.
With murky water quickly filling the bus, Albert spotted a hammer fixed to the sunroof and seized it to smash through the glass. He first helped Chloe onto the roof, where she frantically waved her arms to attract attention, before assisting two other female passengers to safety.
Dramatic Escape and Rescue
As Chloe turned to help Albert, she fell into the floodwater, prompting Albert to jump in after her. The couple managed to swim to safety while the two remaining passengers and the driver were left stranded on the bus roof until firefighters arrived to rescue them.
Miraculously, all four passengers and the driver emerged physically unscathed from the incident, though the psychological impact has been significant.
"We Would Have Drowned" Without Hammer
Albert, a forklift operator, stated emphatically: "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."
He described the rapid escalation of the situation: "It all escalated in the space of 10 minutes." Albert alleges the underpass was already flooded when the driver attempted to navigate through it, despite the obvious danger.
"The driver went under the bridge, and it was completely flooded. For some strange reason he tried to go through it," Albert explained. "Next minute my partner was screaming, and we had to get out."
Psychological Impact and Aftermath
Chloe revealed the incident has left her traumatized, particularly challenging given her existing mental health issues. "I'm a bit traumatized, I think. I've got mental health issues, and I've lost my medication, so it's hard," she said.
Recounting the escape, Chloe described: "I was in the van, and the water started to fill up, and we saw the hammer and Albert got me out first and then he started lifting them out and pulling them out on to the roof. I helped to pull him out and then I ended up falling in the water and Albert jumped in and thank god we were able to swim out."
She added: "It was so cold and it was so scary. We managed to get our clothes back too. The police turned up but it took them an hour to give us a blanket."
Holiday Ruined by Terrifying Experience
The couple decided to continue their holiday despite the traumatic start, but Chloe admitted: "We've ended up sticking it out, but it's made the holiday a bit rubbish and it's made me very panicky. I just don't want to go out."
Albert expressed gratitude for the other passengers' appreciation, noting: "The other two girls were in there and we'd been speaking to them, and they were thanking us for saving our lives."
The incident highlights the dangers tourists can face during extreme weather events while traveling abroad and the importance of emergency preparedness even during routine transfers.
