25 July 2023 , 13:13
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Snooker star Mark Selby has been rescued after being caught up in the wildfires currently engulfing Rhodes.
Selby was on the holiday island when fires began to overwhelm the Greek territory. The fires have burned for more than a week, with thousands now being evacuated by British tour companies and other saved by locals.
Images and videos from the island have shown holidaymakers forced to evacuate their hotels, either by walking or on boats. Roughly 19,000 people have been evacuated so far, in what Greek authorities say is the largest operation of its kind.
Selby, who was runner-up in this year's World Snooker Championships was one of those who was rescued. He revealed the situation on Monday evening to inform fans that he had made a safe return to the UK.
He wrote: “Wow where do I start!!! Firstly I just want to say a huge thank you to the locals in Rhodes for helping us, we cannot thank you enough for your kindness! We are now back home safely! Praying for everybody out there to get home safe.”
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While firefighters are beginning to get control of the situation, holidaymakers are continuing to be evacuated. And Greek prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis warned parliament on Monday that difficult times were ahead..
"We are at war and are exclusively geared towards the fire front. This battle is uneven, and it will keep being like that for as long as the conditions remain hard,” the centre-right leader said about the situation.
Firefighters are continuing to battle flames on Rhodes (AFP via Getty Images)"For the next few weeks we must be on constant alert. We are at war, we will rebuild what we lost, we will compensate those who were hurt. The climate crisis is already here, it will manifest itself everywhere in the Mediterranean with greater disasters."
The European Union has dispatched firefighters from countries in the bloc to help Greece. Serbian firefighters are set to arrive to reinforce Rhodes, though so far the British Government is not advising against travel to the island.
The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: "The current situation is impacting on a limited area in Rhodes and whilst it's right to keep it under review, and it's possible that the advice may change, we do not want to act out of proportion to the situation on the ground."
Now he is back in the UK, Selby will be preparing for the European Masters in Germany next month. As world No.5, his qualifying match against Manasawin Phetmalaikul has been held over until the start of the tournament.
He goes into it on the back of reaching the final of the World Snooker Championship in April. After defeating Mark Allen in a marathon semi-final, he lost to Luca Brecel in the final, despite hitting the first maximum break ever in a World Championship final.