Stranded British newlyweds have told of their devastation after Hurricane Irma ruined their dream Caribbean honeymoon.
Brad and Steph Smart flew out to the Bahamas after tying the knot near their home in Romford, Essex, last week.
Mr Smart, 32, and Mrs Smart, 30, were then supposed to fly on to Orlando for a cruise as part of their £6,500, two-week dream holiday – but have been left in limbo after Hurricane Irma wreaked havoc across the region and led to their flight being cancelled.
Brad and Steph Smart (pictured) are trapped in the Bahamas after Hurricane Irma struck while they were on their honeymoon
The couple got married near their home in Romford, Essex, last week and flew out on their dream, £6,500 honeymoon
Mrs Smart (pictured) chose the Bahamas so she could swim with the famous pigs – but the couple had no idea how bad Irma would be
Mr and Mrs Smart (pictured on their honeymoon) were warned the storm would definitely hit their hotel just days before it was due, leaving them no time to escape
They are now trapped inside the four-star Melia Hotel on Nassau island.
Mr Smart, an electrician, told Mail Online: ‘It’s been frightening. After getting married on the Saturday, we flew out on the Monday. Then we travelled to Exuma to see the pigs, which my wife wanted to do.
‘On Wednesday we were at the hotel and got told the hurricane was definitely coming for us and the hotel manager told us to try and get home.
‘Until that point we weren’t fazed by it but when the hotel manager said that it upset my wife and made us more anxious.
‘On Thursday we were told to stay in our rooms. I was looking over the balcony and spotted some contractors doing work to prepare the hotel for the storm.
‘I was sitting bored in my room so I thought I’d help. It was windy outside but not too bad so I helped them for a couple of hours.’
Mr and Mrs Smart are trapped inside the four-star Melia Hotel on Nassau island
Stranded: The couple were due to fly to Orlando to go on a cruise but the hurricane has left their plans in tatters
They now face an anxious wait to see if they will make their re-arranged cruise on Wednesday
On Friday the weather took a turn for the worse and the hotel guests were forced to stay inside and told they would be spending Saturday inside the hotel’s underground ballroom for protection.
But Irma struck on Friday night.
Mr Smart said: ‘It woke us up in the middle of the night, it was terrifying. The hotel had advised us to stay in the bathroom so we spent a couple of hours in there.’
Mr Smart described hearing the 150mph winds raging outside the couple’s window throughout the night – but the hotel managed to escape serious damage thanks to the protective work carried out by Mr Smart and the contractors.
The Category 4 storm has since moved onto Florida, killing four people and leaving six million without power.
Now, without a flight to get them to Orlando or a Royal Caribbean cruise ship to go to, the couple claim they have been left in the dark.
Mr Smart said: ‘We’re frustrated and annoyed. They’ve offered us a 100% refund on a future cruise but that’s no good to us.
Mr Smart (pictured) even helped prepare the hotel for the hurricane
Mr Smart got on with helping the locals prepare for the storm by erecting defences including sand bags
The view from the four-star Melia Hotel on Nassau island where the Smarts are stranded
Mr Smart tried to make light of the situation by sending comedic snapchats to friends
Mr Smart said: ‘It’s ruined our honeymoon. The first two or three days were perfect but from Thursday it started getting windy. We’ve been stuck in the hotel room watching Netflix’
‘We only came here to swim with the pigs. That was an amazing experience and I’m glad we did it.
‘I asked what would happen to the pigs during the storm and they told us they’d be looked after.
‘We were the last people to see them because the storm was coming.’
The couple are now waiting anxiously to see if Orlando airport will be re-opened in time for them to fly in and make their re-arranged cruise on Wednesday.
Mr Smart said: ‘It’s been an experience and a half.
‘It’s ruined our honeymoon. The first two or three days were perfect but from Thursday it started getting windy. We’ve been stuck in the hotel room watching Netflix.
‘We’re just praying to God and keeping our hopes up that we get on that cruise.’
The Smarts’ four-star Melia Hotel on Nassau island
The hotel prepared guests for the hurricane and warned them they would be staying in the underground ballroom during the storm