A HUDDERSFIELD man told today of his ordeal on a Caribbean island devastated by Hurricane Ivan.
Adrian Greaves and his family are trapped on Grenada, with no idea when they can return home.
"There were roofs falling on cars, trees falling on cars and a few animals got killed," said Adrian in a phone interview with the Examiner.
Mr Greaves, 39, of Lockwood, who is staying with relatives in Tivoli, on the east coast of Grenada, witnessed the force of the storm first-hand.
He had jetted out with his mother, Anastasia, 72, and brothers Andrew, 45, and Dennis James, 41. Dennis's partner, Sue Wright, 42, joined them.
They were in their relatives' home during the worst of the storm.
Part of the roof was ripped off, but otherwise the property escaped unscathed.
"The capital of Grenada, St George's, took quite a battering," said Adrian.
Families left homeless have been staying in schools and churches as recovery efforts get under way.
"Houses are gone and there's just clothes and furniture all over the place," added Adrian.
The family were supposed to return home to Yorkshire tomorrow, but do not expect to fly back until well into next week.
Adrian said it would take time to rebuild the island's infrastructure.
"Things are bad now, but they say it's going to get worse. Electricity won't be on until well after we leave the island," he said.
A boy of eight died of head injuries in Grenada yesterday after his house collapsed on him on Tuesday. His death brought the death toll in the Caribbean to 37.
Meanwhile, two-storey- high waves lashed the coast of Jamaica today as hundreds of British tourists braced themselves for the full force of the hurricane.
Awed onlookers stood transfixed on the seaside Palisadoes Highway as 23ft waves crashed ashore, throwing rocks and tree branches over 100 feet into the road.
Torrential rains flooded eastern Jamaica early today, with winds knocking down powerlines and ripping off roofs.
If it follows its projected course, the hurricane will leave the island near Montego Bay, pass the Cayman Islands and cross Cuba before hitting southern Florida.
About 2,600 British holidaymakers were airlifted to the Dominican Republic, but some 850 chose to stay.
