WILDLIFE photographer Ray Buckley’s dream holiday in the Gambia tuned into a nightmare when he found himself in the middle of a military coup.

The Cinderford snapper and his wife Jenny arrived in the West African republic only hours before Senegalese and Nigerian troops invaded the country to oust outgoing president Yahya Jammeh.

A state of emergency had been declared after Mr Jammeh had failed to relinquish the reins of power to the democratically elected Adama Barrow.

Ray, who had hoped to spend ten days capturing images of the country’s exotic wildlife, was told that he and the other UK holidaymakers would almost immediately be flown home to safety.

“There were rumours that there would be a curfew and people would be shot on sight and that the airport could be closed,” Ray said.

“It was a heck of a shock.”

“We were told to go out and stand by the pool as we’d be picked up at 1.30pm and taken to the airport for a 5pm flight back to the UK.

“On the way to the airport there were military deployments all around the place with sandbags, machine guns and truck with big guns all the way to the airport. 

“All the Gambians seemed to be fleeing to Senegal, just leaving the country. 

“We could see all the banks and garages were closed and people were queuing up at cash machines to get their money out.”

Ray said the airport was chaotic and heaving with people trying to flee the nation.

“There were people of all nationalities trying to get out,” he said.

“Our flight didn’t leave until 7 o’clock and we were diverted to Gran Canaria for refuelling. We’d had nothing to eat.

“We finally arrived at Gatwick at around 4am and were bussed to Birmingham. We didn’t arrive back home in the Forest until 8am on Thursday.”

The couple booked their holiday with The Gambia Experience at a cost of round £4,000 but have been reassured they will get their money back.

Ray, who had been to the country twice before, was hoping to get some impressive photos of the African wildlife but only managed a photograph of a vulture and a whimbrel.

“We would probably go again once it all settles down. The times we’d been before it was great. It was was one of the friendliest nation’s we’d been to.”

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A semblance of order has now been restored to the Gambia after Mr Jammeh flew to Guinea in exile, amid claims that he had plundered more than £9million from state coffers in the previous two weeks.