We’re going to feel a lot safer when we land in Scotland
Counsellors help tourists
A travel firm sent counsellors to help holidaymakers in Turkey after their hotel was targeted by troops trying to kill the president.
Tonia McGinley and her family were staying in the Marmaris resort where soldiers tried to kill president Recep Tayyip Erdogan when they launched a failed coup nine days ago.
The 49-year-old mum of three from Cumbernauld was awoken by the sound of helicopter gunships opening fire at the complex.
It later transpired that Erdogan had only just left the resort to return to the capital Ankara.
Despite being shaken by events, Tonia, her partner Mark and their twin boys Jack and Nathan decided to stay for the rest of their holiday.
She said yesterday that things seemed to have returned to normal in Turkey but added the family were looking forward to returning to Scotland today.
Tonia said: “It took a few days for us to settle down. But there were UK counsel lors out here from one of the holiday firms, which was good.
“They were just asking about what we’d seen and what we felt about it. They were talking about how people can react to such events.
“It wa s ver y helpful and we were quite impressed at the gesture. Our adrenaline levels eventually returned to normal.”
Tonia added: “I was shaking for a couple of days afterwards. I don’t think I slept for the first three days.
“Even the sound of a door being slammed had us jumping out our skin.
“Two military helicopters flew past the complex yesterday and we were completely on edge.
“I will feel safer when I land back in Scotland. It was absolutely the most terrifying thing I’ve ever experienced in my life.”
We told last week how Tonia and her family barricaded themselves in their room as gunshots rang out.
The military are understood to have attacked the Grand Yazici Hotel believing Erdogan was still there.
Hours earlier, in an interview broadcast from the resort on a reporter’s mobile phone, he had rallied Turkish people against the plotters, urging them to “go to the streets and give them their answer”. er”.
The Foreign Off ice yesterday day warned tourists in Turkey shouldould “remain vigilant, particularly in areas reas where crowds may gather, and stay well away from any demonstrations”.ons”.
The counsellors Tonia spokeke to were provided by Thomson. The company declined to comment. .