A British couple from Rainham, Kent, had to flee toward the sea after wildfires surrounded their holiday resort in Croatia. The couple was staying at the Gava Waterman resort on the island of Brač for a week-long holiday. The all-inclusive four-star waterfront hotel initially reassured guests that the fires were "nothing to worry about," even though ash was falling from the sky and a bright orange glow was visible over the hills. The couple had arrived on the island on September 7 and were aware that wildfires had been burning in the area for several days. A guide had warned them on Friday that lightning strikes had caused the blaze. Despite the fires being close by, they were repeatedly told the situation was under control. On the evening of September 12, the couple went out to dinner with friends and noticed an "orange glow" in the sky. Anna said ash was falling into their drinks. Just after 9:30 pm, the power at the hotel went out. Soon after, Stephen said ash was "visibly falling from the sky." At that point, the couple returned to their room and decided to pack a small bag "just in case." Within minutes, a friend told them that trees were on fire right next to the hotel. Anna explained that embers were blowing across the area. She quickly changed her shoes and went down to the sea, but there were no lights and no hotel staff present. The fire was approaching rapidly, so they decided the best course of action was to get into the water. Hundreds of people eventually gathered on wooden platforms and in the sea as smoke and flames surrounded the bay. "Everyone was absolutely terrified," she added. "There were hundreds of people all on these platforms or in the sea. We were basically trapped." Stephen said there was little hotel staff presence at the time, and the only staff members he saw were entertainment and restaurant workers. He said there was no emergency lighting, no clear evacuation route, and the reception area was empty. He added that he had to rescue an elderly couple who became stuck in automatic glass doors. "There were families, elderly people and disabled guests trying to get down a steep, dark resort towards a rocky beach while the fire closed in behind us," he added. "Within minutes, the trees around the beach were burning. The flames were above us." Firefighters eventually arrived and helped organize a sea evacuation, and local boat owners came to help rescue those trapped. Stephen said around 50 boats came to help and praised the firefighters and local people who came to their aid. The couple, who booked the holiday through TUI, were moved to accommodation in Split in the early hours of Sunday morning—on Anna’s birthday. They returned home on September 14, but Anna said the experience has had a lasting impact. She explained: "We're not sleeping properly. You just close your eyes, and you're going through it all the time." A spokesperson for Waterman Hotels and Resorts acknowledged the "frightening and traumatic" ordeal for guests and said they do not seek to diminish anyone’s experience. They explained that the resort’s layout, loss of electricity, heavy smoke, and poor visibility, along with the speed of the fire, meant guests experienced different circumstances. They clarified that guests were not abandoned and that staff initially followed official instructions from emergency services. When conditions changed rapidly, the reception manager decided to activate the alarm and begin the evacuation. The spokesperson said many staff members stayed behind to help guests and colleagues during the evacuation. They also noted that the company is reviewing the events and will examine their procedures and communications. They expressed gratitude for the efforts of firefighters, local people, and their own employees in preventing more serious consequences.