British tourists have revealed how they were left ‘shaken’ after the 4×4 jeep they were in broke down on a ‘cliff edge’, leaving the massive vehicle tilted near a steep slope in Turkey.
Josef Killey, 24, and his partner Joseph Morphet, 29, were traveling with 14 other tourists on a dirt road when the vehicle stopped.
A tire burst, tipping the vehicle over the side of an incline, in a scene reminiscent of the ending of the legendary 1969 heist film The Italian Job, where the robbers’ loot-laden bus hangs over the edge of a alpine path.
Charlie Croker, played by Michael Caine, famously says, “Wait a minute guys, I’ve got a great idea.”
Other cars were available to transport them but, feeling unsafe, the couple – who had been enjoying a holiday in Bodrum – and their group of eight decided to go on foot, along with another family of five, walking for 45 minutes in the 30-degree of heat.
One of the passengers can be seen inspecting the vehicle while it is over the edge of the “cliff”.
The 4×4 hanging over the edge of the ‘cliff’. Josef Killey, 24, and his partner Joseph Morphet, 29, were traveling with 14 other tourists on a dirt road when the vehicle stopped.
Josef, a financial crime analyst, said: “It was a truckload of children, children from our family and another family with children and grandparents on board.
‘Everyone was really shocked by it and the lack of information from the guides made it even worse.
“It could have gone horribly wrong and we’re glad it didn’t, but the thought scares us enough as it is.”
Josef said the group had booked the tour on June 3 through the concierge at their hotel in Bodrum, where they were enjoying a two-week vacation.
The tour guides told the group that they could jump into one of the other 4x4s and continue the tour, but they refused because they felt unsafe.
Since there were no alternative routes down the mountain, the group walked for 45 minutes to the next stopping point, where they agreed to hop on another vehicle to reach the main road.
Passengers trying to get the vehicle back on the road.
Josef Killey and his partner Joseph Morphet in Türkiye. Josef said the group had booked the tour on June 3 through the concierge at their hotel in Bodrum, where they were enjoying a two-week vacation.
Josef said they still felt unsafe in the vehicle and after a few minutes they asked to be let out so they could walk the remaining way to the main road.
After checking that there were no more cliffs or dangerous roads, the group agreed to return to the vehicle and finish the tour.
“It was quite bumpy – our driver was telling us we could stand on our seats to look at the view, so people were standing up and holding on to the railing,” Josef said.
The driver pointed out an eagle flying on our left side, where the edge of the cliff was. It was quite a narrow path and he was distracted and not looking where he was going.
“Everyone was screaming to get out of the vehicle, it was like someone had hit the brakes really hard.
‘We said we don’t want to get in another of the cars and we don’t want to go back the way we came.
“We hiked for 45 minutes in 28 degrees to a roadside photo stop; we were all exhausted when we got there.
The group walks to the next stopping point in 30 degree heat and the vehicle on the side of the ‘cliff’. The tour guides told the group that they could jump into one of the other 4x4s and continue the tour, but they refused because they felt unsafe.
The vehicle before the crash. Josef, a financial crime analyst, said: “It was a truckload full of children, children in our family and another family with children and grandparents on board.”
“The tour guide said we could continue on the road or wait and go back the way we came in a Jeep.
“We decided to go back up and get to the main road, but the driver was distracted, so we insisted on getting out, even if the distance to the road was short, and we said we would walk.”
“Then we asked the new driver if there were any more cliffs and he said no, so we continued the tour from there.”
A representative for the tour company said: “We were driving on a rough terrain road when a stone hit the edge of the tire which broke the centre.
‘We provided a second vehicle within 20 minutes as we were far from the city center.
The guests insisted on not getting in the vehicle and said they wanted the ride.
A jeep followed them until they reached the main road. We offered them a full refund and a ride back to the hotel, as well as a full check up at the hospital in case of any injuries.
The guests refused to return to the hotel and chose to continue the excursion. We also refunded half of the money they paid. They also got a free zip line, squirt guns and photos worth £100.
“There was no crash at all, it was just a breakdown while off road. We obey the strictest health and safety rules and regulations, but cars can break down all the time.’
I am Rakesh Sharma, I associated with Elite News as an Editor, since 2021. I take care of all the news operations like content, budget, hiring and policy making.