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BIG FIERY GREEK WEDDING
We had dream wedding in Rhodes as wildfires ravaged island – we feared the worst until miracle phone call
A BRITISH couple were married in Rhodes yesterday — despite their flight being axed after wildfires broke out on the Greek island.
Rob Heasman, 38, and his bride Kirstie Galvin, 32, spent the past two-and-a-half years planning their big day.
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The couple packed the wedding dress and suits and went to bed on Saturday night ahead of a 2.45am drive to Luton airport.
But shortly before 1am they were woken by a call from Rob’s best man with the crushing news that their easyJet flight had been cancelled at the last minute due to the unfolding wildfires crisis.
Kirstie burst into tears, before the family rallied to save the big day.
After dozens of phone calls, they secured a new easyJet flight 24 hours later — as, unlike some other operators, the airline decided to resume flights to Rhodes.
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The wedding party arrived on the Greek island on Monday — as wildfires still raged in some areas.
Against all odds, the happy couple got to walk down the aisle yesterday in front of 50 family and friends at the ancient Kallithea Springs.
They were pronounced husband and wife as brave firefighters fought flames that were causing havoc 20 miles away in Gennadi.
Thrilled tiler Rob said: “It’s a miracle we got this far. We feared we would have to cancel the wedding.
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“We never gave up hope and after a brief panic we all pulled together and achieved the impossible.” Marketing executive Kirstie looked stunning in a white wedding dress and nervous Rob wiped tears away as they exchanged rings and said ‘I do’.
The couple, who have two children Nuala, six, and Brielle, two, had refused to reschedule the wedding.
Kirstie’s mum Mandy Galvin, 57, said: “After numerous phone calls we got hold of a lovely lady at easyJet who vowed to do all she could to help. Four hours later she rang to say we’d be on a new flight the next day.”
Kirstie, of Bedford, said: “Of all the islands in the world, of all the dates, we couldn’t believe our luck when the wildfires erupted.”
An easyJet spokesman said: “We are really pleased our customer agent secured alternative arrangements for them all so their big day could go ahead as planned.”
But some couples faced heartache after their weddings were cancelled. Student nurse Tarnya Kemp, 43, and production worker Colin Saunders, 55, shelled out £32,000 to tie the knot this Sunday in Lindos — where scores of wildfires are burning.
After landing in Rhodes they and their 22 guests were told their apartments at Lindia Thalassa had been evacuated. They spent two nights in a basketball hall lying on mattresses before taking a mercy flight home.
Tarnya, from Kidderminster, Worcs, said: “We are safe and I’m grateful for that. We can’t get married until I get our money back. I don’t know when that will be.”
A record-breaking heatwave sweeping Greece has left shrubland tinder dry with winds fanning the flames.
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Last night, scientists said July was “virtually certain” to become the world’s warmest month on record.
They described the temperatures as “unprecedented” and suggested they were the hottest for 100,000 years.
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