Grenada Hurricane.shtml - Latest News & Updates

This page has been archived and is no longer updated. Find out more about page archiving.

28 October 2014

	BBC Homepage

»	BBC Local Devon Things to do People & Places Nature History Religion & Ethics Arts and Culture BBC Introducing TV & Radio Sites near Devon Cornwall Dorset Somerset Related BBC Sites England
	Contact Us

Medical student caught in hurricane

Marc Gibson came through the ordeal unscathed.

A medical student from Devon has described how he was caught up in the devastation caused as Hurricane Ivan ripped through the Caribbean island of Grenada.

SEE ALSO

Experience Africa - community visit

WEB LINKS

Caribbean Hurricane Network

The BBC is not responsible for the content of external websites.

FACTS

In Grenada 37 people died and roughly two-thirds of the 100,000 inhabitants were left homeless.

The Red Cross said that 90% of buildings on the island had suffered some kind of damage.

One of the worst-hit buildings was the headquarters of Grenada's own national Red Cross society, which was completely destroyed - just as officials were trying to build an extension to the premises.

PRINT THIS PAGE

View print friendly version of this page..

Early in September 2004 Hurricane Ivan struck the Caribbean and later the United States, causing more than a 100 deaths.

Marc Gibson, a medical student from Plymouth, was just coming to the end of an eight week placement on the island of Grenada when the hurricane arrived.

PHOTO GALLERY 1

Those in its path got only a day's warning and there was widespread confusion over how badly the island would be hit. In the end it turned out to be Grenada's worst hurricane for 60 years.

Fortunately Marc came through the terrifying experience unharmed.

Around 90 per cent of properties on Grenada suffered damage.

He and his friends were staying in wooden huts, but decided to seek shelter when they saw roofs being ripped to shreds in the distance.

The group sheltered in their landlord's brick house, but as the hurricane picked up, even this couldn't withstand the wind and the roof was blown off.

With the wind blowing at up to 140mph they were in danger from flying debris and for much of the time they held a mattress against the window.

Marc and his seven friends took advantage of a dip in the wind to take refuge in a tiny shower room.

They stayed there for 10 hours holding a mattress over the door to protect themselves while the hurricane raged outside.

Marc is now safely back home, and able to tell the tale.

Article first published: 23rd September 2004