An Ipswich father has spoken of his worry as his son, daughter-in-law and grandson hunker down in the Bahamas as Hurricane Irma heads straight for them.
Paul Nixon, who has also had to cancel his holiday to Orlando, Florida, due to the storm, said he is preparing to be completely cut off from his son and five-year-old grandson when the storm hits.
Mr Nixon said his family live directly on to the beach in Nassau, with his son’s home completely exposed to whatever the storm has to offer.
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“They are moving inland with some friends during the storm, the island is right on the path of the hurricane, so it is worrying,” he said.
“They have been there during hurricanes before – they will probably lose all power and water for at least a few days. Any food that you have will quickly go off, so that is a problem as well.
“I think the worse thing for them will be heading back, driving down the road to where their house is, not knowing at all what will be there.
“The house could be completely destroyed, or it could be fine, it must be horrible not knowing.”
His son James, 40, and his wife Rachel, along with son Marley, have been living in the Bahamas for around three years.
They are part of a large Ipswich and Suffolk contingent, who like James moved out to work in the construction industry.
On top of worrying about his family, Mr Nixon said he had been fighting with holiday company HolidayGenie, who he claimed were refusing to cancel his trip to Orlando with wife, Marilyn, despite the place being evacuated ahead of the hurricane hitting.
“As soon as we knew about the hurricane I was in touch with them,” he said. “But they said Virgin will still planning to fly so they could not cancel it.
“I told them people in Florida who I know were already leaving, with no petrol available at the pumps. At one point they said ‘I hope you have a nice holiday after the storm goes’.
“Our flight was supposed to get in an hour before they shut the whole airport – did they expect us to get a hire car, with no petrol, and somehow get to the hotel?”
Mr Nixon’s flight was later cancelled, with HolidayGenie agreeing to a refund, but warning it will take up to eight weeks.
HolidayGenie were approached for comment but failed to get back before deadline.
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