A family from Bromley had to abandon their luggage in their hotel and were forced to flee as wildfires spread across Rhodes. 

Sally O’Connor and her family were evacuated from the Lindos Princess Hotel after seeing black smoke billowing over the building.

The 55-year-old arrived in Rhodes on July 11 with her husband Barry, daughter Amy and granddaughter Poppy for a two-week holiday on the Greek island.

News Shopper: Wildfire in Rhodes, Greece. Wildfire in Rhodes, Greece. (Image: Sally O'Connor)

But they were forced to grab “essential” items and told to flee by hotel staff as the fires were spreading "rapidly". 

Sally told the News Shopper: “It all happened so fast, one minute we were enjoying our holiday, then it was pure chaos.

“Sirens went off and all you can see was thick smoke, and you can just feel the heat from the fires.

“We were told by the hotel staff to grab only essential items and leave." 

News Shopper: Picture of wildfire from Sally's hotel. Picture of wildfire from Sally's hotel. (Image: Sally O'Connor)

The wildfires, which began six days ago, had prompted the biggest evacuation from a blaze in Greece’s history, the Athens government said.

More than 3,000 people were rescued from beaches and another 16,000 were taken to safety on land, according to authorities.

Sally and her family started to walk away from the hotel with "no direction" in where they were going.

News Shopper: People evacuated from Rhodes, Greece. People evacuated from Rhodes, Greece. (Image: Sally O'Connor)

Sally said: “We were told to just get away from the hotel, no one had any idea what was going on.

“We all just started walking on a random road without any direction or communication from anyone. 

“So, after walking for a while, a coach went past us and the driver picked up families with children.

“The driver was amazing. The locals were coming out in their own cars to help us, they were just amazing.”

News Shopper: People being evacuated from Rhodes, Greece. People being evacuated from Rhodes, Greece. (Image: Sally O'Connor)

Sally and her family were taken to Lindos Square where they stayed for four hours and were told by the army to evacuate again as the fires were spreading. 

The family of four were picked up by a coach and then taken to a school in Afantou to spend the night.

Sally added: “Someone gave my granddaughter a mattress to sleep on and we set up a little camp.

“A lady asked if we wanted to go stay with a family at another part of the island.”

News Shopper: The school where the O'Connor's slept. The school where the O'Connor's slept. (Image: Sally O'Connor)

The O'Connors are currently living with a Greek couple in Ixia, a neighbourhood in Rhodes, as they wait to return back to England. 

Sally said: “Soula and Babbis Rousettoub are so amazing that they took us into their home.

“They are truly amazing people. I'm more worried for the great people of Greece, what happens to them when we leave? 

News Shopper: The school where the O'Connor's slept The school where the O'Connor's slept (Image: Sally O'Connor)

"Their homes have been destroyed. I truly do feel sorry for them." 

The O’Connors are scheduled to fly back home tomorrow (July 25), but Sally is not confident the flight will take off.

Airline easyJet will operate two rescue flights from Rhodes totalling 421 seats on Monday and a third on Tuesday. 

Tour operators Jet2, TUI and Correndon have all cancelled flights which were due to be leaving the popular holiday spot over the next few days, reports Sky News.

Sally added: “I’m not confident at all that the flight will take off, as the authorities have not communicated at all with us.

“All we’ve received is alert texts from them but nothing else. We will be going to the airport and hope that our flight takes off.”

Stamatis Valsami, a manager of a hotel in Rhodes who has been helping tourists including the O'Connor family evacuate, said the Greek authorities have not been helpful in aiding people.

News Shopper: Picture of Stamatis Valsami. Picture of Stamatis Valsami. (Image: Sally O'Connor)

The 51-year-old said: “No aeroplanes, no helicopters nothing to help the people.

“Where are these people going to go? What are these people going to do? They don’t think about this.

“There’s no form of communication. I don’t want to be negative but they need to do more they really do.

“The locals are volunteering themselves in helping these people but nothing from the authorities.”

Sally claims that Greek authorities have done "nothing" in helping people with their safety. 

She added: "They've done nothing, the locals are doing everything out of their own pockets in helping us. 

"I really don't know what's going on. I really don't know why.

"We've lost everything, our luggage and everything but thankfully the people are okay."