'It's getting naughty now, things getting blown over': Billericay Town's multi-millionaire owner stranded in Mauritius as paradise island braces for scale 3 cyclone to hit

  • Glenn Tamplin is stranded on Mauritius as Cyclone Berguitta approaches island
  • Billericay owner was due to fly home today with his wife Bliss as the airport shut 
  • Forecasters are predicting the scale 3 cyclone could be hugely destructive 

A multi-millionaire football club owner has been stranded as a potentially devastating cyclone bears down on the island where he is holidaying.

Glenn Tamplin, who purchased Billericay Town in 2016, was scheduled to depart Mauritius with his wife Bliss today.

But the island has been placed on lockdown as forecasters warn Cyclone Berguitta could batter the island. 

Tweeting today, Mr Tamplin said: 'Meant to fly home today but stuck in scale 3 cyclone on its was hitting us in Mauritius head-on in next 12 hours.

In a video posted to Twitter, Billericay Town owner Glenn Tamplin said he was due to fly home today with his wife bliss
The video shows palm trees swaying and strong winds whipping up the sea

In a video posted to Twitter, Billericay Town owner Glenn Tamplin said he was due to fly home today with his wife bliss

Mauritius' meteorological service said Berguitta was likely to 'pass very close' to the Indian Ocean at around mid-morning tomorrow

Mauritius' meteorological service said Berguitta was likely to 'pass very close' to the Indian Ocean at around mid-morning tomorrow

'Not good times but the lord will keep us safe.'

Mr Tamplin, who also manages Billericay Town, also posted a video showing strong winds sweeping through palm trees and whipping up waves. 

He says: 'It's getting naughty now. The sea's right in. You can see it's getting bad now... not good. 

'Hopefully we'll come out of it unscathed but things are getting worse by the minute.'

The cyclone has prompted officials to close the island's port and airport as residents flock to storm shelters set up by the government.

Mauritius' meteorological service said Berguitta was likely to 'pass very close' to the Indian Ocean at around mid-morning tomorrow. 

They said: 'On this trajectory, tropical cyclone Berguitta is dangerously approaching Mauritius and represents a direct threat to the island.'

Etienne Sinatambou, the Minister for Environment and also head of the National Crisis Committee, said about 2,000 people had sought refuge in 43 storm shelters around the island

Etienne Sinatambou, the Minister for Environment and also head of the National Crisis Committee, said about 2,000 people had sought refuge in 43 storm shelters around the island

A spokesman for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office added: 'You should monitor the progress of approaching storms and follow the advice of the local authorities, including any evacuation orders.'

The island's authorities shut the airport at around 3pm today until further notice.  

And its main port, Port Louis Harbour, was also closed. It handles around 99 per cent of external trade, including key imports for the population of 1.3million such as food and oil. 

Etienne Sinatambou, the Minister for Environment and also head of the National Crisis Committee, said about 2,000 people had sought refuge in 43 storm shelters around the island.

According to the Central Electricity Board, around 300 households were without power. 

It is feared the storm will cause extensive damage and the island of Reunion was also on alert as Berguitta approached. 

Soobiraj Sok Appadu, the former director of the meteorological service, estimated the cyclone might shave between 1 to 2 percentage points from the country's GDP. 

In February 1994, Cyclone Hollanda killed two people, destroyed 450 homes and caused an estimated £95million in damage when it hit Mauritius.

The island is 1,200 miles from mainland Africa and home to around 1.2million people.  

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