Crete taxi driver steers storm-tossed car to safety, rescuing German family
A taxi driver in Ferma, Crete, fought raging waters and prevented a vehicle from plunging off a cliff, saving a German couple and their two children.
In Ferma on the island of Crete, a taxi driver faced powerful surf that threatened to carry her vehicle over a cliff roughly seven metres high. Losing control, she quickly turned the wheel in the opposite direction, causing the car to spin and come to rest on a nearby sidewalk, where it lodged. The German family inside—two adults and children aged 9 and 11—struggled as water rose to the rear seats.
The driver signaled her location to colleagues, opened the windows, and helped the parents lift the children out after the doors failed to open. The incident ended without further injury, thanks to the driver’s quick thinking and composure under pressure.
Why it matters
The rescue highlights how ordinary citizens can prevent tragedies during extreme weather events.
How this story developed
- Oct 1 112 issues travel warning as severe weather hits Crete's Rethymno region
- Oct 4 Deputy governor Nikos Syrigonakis ordered emergency crews to clear landslides and debris.
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