Lyn Hughes | 04 March 2022
Award winning tour guide rescues Ukrainian refugees
Tim Pendlebury who is based in Poland drove 300km to the border to pick up a mother and daughter fleeing Ukraine
Tim Pendlebury who is based in Poland drove 300km to the border to pick up a mother and daughter fleeing Ukraine
Tim Pendlebury of Insight Vacations, Highly Commended in the Wanderlust World Guide Awards 2019, leaped into action when he heard of a family in need.
Tim had briefly met Natalia, her husband Vadim, and their two daughters, four or five years years ago when they were visiting Krakow. "It was a cold, wet night, and they were lost, looking for their accommodation. I knew the area and walked them 20 minutes to where they needed to go. They spoke only Ukrainian so we didn't talk much, but we exchanged social media handles.
"The older of the two daughters, Alina, has followed me on Instagram since then. When the war started, I reached out to her to check on their situation, and that her family were ok. She is in her first year of studying journalism at the Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznan, Poland. She told me that her mother and younger sister were indeed trying to get out of Ukraine towards the Polish border, and asked if I could help.
“I got in the car and drove six hours across to the border. It was a freezing cold night. Due to the traffic arriving to the border on the Ukrainian side, they were forced to leave their car, leaving all of their luggage, and walk the last 10kms to the border... not easy with an eight-year-old in -5 Celsius!
"They then spent hours in the immigration processing. I finally met them at 3:45am. They had spent three nights in underground shelters listening to the warplanes and missiles above, had hardly any sleep, and had travelled ridiculous amount of time to get out of Kyiv and then to the border. They were freezing cold, afraid and angry. It was a very emotional second meeting for myself and Natalia too... she told me that she always knew that our first meeting in Krakow was no accident."
Natalia's husband Vadim remains in Ukraine to fight. “Vadim is in the village where both of Natalia's and Vadim's parents live; they are too old to leave and he is taking care of them. Natalia and Darya are staying with Alina; the university has allowed them to stay in a dorm there.”
Tim is heading back to the border this weekend. “We will leave at 4:00am tomorrow morning to arrive to the border at around 9:00-10:00am. They have a shortage of blankets, so we will buy a load of them this afternoon to take with us. We have cold nights coming up, down to minus ten. We are prepared, and intend to, bring a family home with us. In this case it won't be people we know.
"Over the past couple of days, I've been in touch with friends of people still trying to get out of Kyiv where they remain with young children in bomb shelters. It has become very difficult; the trains are packed and slow. Hopefully we can get some positive news on their progress. Otherwise, we will bring back anybody who would like to come with us. We will offer our help at the border in whatever capacity we can."
Tim is aware that many people around the world want to help in some way. “Of course, donations to charity organizations are a great way to help. I set one up on Facebook which is receiving great support helping the Caritas Poland organisation who are providing the first help and assistance to refugees arriving to Poland.
Looking ahead, Tim wants encourage tourism to Ukraine and is also passionate about his adopted country of Poland. “I intend to create a new itinerary with Insight Vacations, a 'Country Roads of Poland & Ukraine'.
"As soon as this is over, my family and I will travel to Ukraine to visit Natalia and Vadim in their village and home. Everything here in Poland is fine, it's very safe. People shouldn't be worried about travelling to Poland. There is a magnificent sense of community effort and support for Ukraine, the entire country have opened their hearts and their homes. We don't envisage any problems here, and of course with the negotiations ongoing, we hope that the fighting in Ukraine stops soon. Our 'Highlights of Poland' trip will start as usual in the Spring, with the first departure on May 6th. I'd love to see you here!”
And meanwhile Tim says that Natalia and Darya are undoubtedly close friends for life.
Keep up to date with Tim on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.
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