Author trapped in Jamaica amid hurricane terror

AN AUTHOR who is trapped in Jamaica due to Hurricane Melissa has spoken about the ordeal.

- By RAMAZANI MWAMBA

Ashley Thorpe, from south Manchester, was on a two-week family holiday in the Caribbean island when a national emergency alert was triggered for what was described as the world’s strongest storm this year.

The 38-year-old was staying at a resort in the coastal town of Lucea, which is located between Negril and Montego Bay.

He says that he found out about the impending storm just five days into his getaway and had plans to travel back home to Manchester on Sunday.

However, the closest airport, in Montego Bay, was suddenly closed for safety reasons on Saturday, leaving him with no choice but to see out the category five hurricane by barricading the doors of his hotel room as it tore through the Grand Palladium Lady Hamilton resort.