The news over the past few weeks has been dominated by the record breaking hurricane Irma which tore a path through the Caribbean two weeks ago.

At least 55 people have been killed and the Red Cross has said that so far 1.2 million people have been affected.

The category five hurricane passed through the British Virgin Islands (BVI) on September 6th, and Necker Island, the work place of 29 year old Ross-on-Wye man Josh Gilmour, took the full force of its 185mph winds.

Most of the buildings and vegetation on the island has been destroyed or badly damaged.

Caught in the eye of the storm Josh and his work colleagues, including Richard Branson, hunkered down in the wine cellar, with no idea what awaited them when the storm had passed.

Josh, who has worked on Necker Island as a tennis pro for three years, exclusively told the Ross Gazette about his experience of the hurricane and the devastation it has caused. He said: “It was a rough ride. The island is destroyed.”

Josh said that hurricane season is always a worry but usually they only get some bad weather; however Irma had other ideas and just got stronger and stronger as it took aim at Necker Island.

Josh said: “We were as prepared for Irma as we possibly could be, but she had other ideas. On Wednesday, September 6th we went down into our bunker, which is essentially just a gift shop and wine cellar with windows boarded up, at around 9.30am, just as the winds started to get dangerous.

“Little did we know then the several more levels of strength Irma had, with maximum speeds of up to 215mph.”

See the full story in this week’s edition of the Ross Gazette, or subscribe to our online edition here