Zak and Elliot’s return to Iceland: A story of survival and gratitude

Imagine this. You are going on an exciting vacation with your special someone to a distant and slightly exotic destination. Just hours after you land, you are in a terrible car accident. You are injured and your special someone is left in a critical condition. Fortunately, your loved one can pull through after a long and difficult stay in intensive care. Would you return to express your love for the country and thank the hospital staff?  This is what Brits Zak Nelson and Elliot Griffiths did.

In spring 2024, Zak and Elliot came to Iceland for their holiday. Immediately after landing, they drove east on the south coast. But unfortunately, they were in a serious car accident. Elliott was severely injured and had to fight for his life in intensive care. This was not entirely an unhappy time. Zak and Elliot got engaged during this challenging time.

In October 2024, Zak and Elliott returned to the Landsspítali University Hospital to thank the staff there. It was a happy reunion, and I imagine that it was gratifying for the doctors and nurses to meet those young men who expressed their deep gratitude for the care they received.

Last autumn, I watched a TV segment about this heartwarming visit, and their story stuck with me. Despite their terrible accident there, I wanted to check in with those travelers who decided to return to Iceland.

Hey Zak and Elliot – congratulations on your engagement. How is the recovery process going?

(Zak) Hey! Thank you, it’s going as well as it can be; he’ll never be the same again. Elliot had two surgeries at the time. There was a third surgery in November here in the UK. It’s been a long road. He is now as well as he ever will be, but the effects of the crash will last forever.

Can you tell me about the accident? What happened there?

(Zak) We drove east on Highway 1 towards our first overnight accommodation, and stopped for one of Iceland’s famous Pylsur hotdogs. We were ahead of time, so we were considering whether or not to go straight to our hotel, or to go past it and see Seljalandsfoss that evening. We still hadn’t entirely decided, but we finished our hot dog and pulled back onto Highway 1 anyway. Only a minute or two had passed when suddenly an oncoming car came onto our side of the road. They may have been trying to overtake the bus in front, or they may have just lost concentration for a second. Either way, I barely had any time to react. I remember that sudden dread when the car first appeared, and the next thing I know, there’s an almighty noise and everything stops.

How did the Icelandic emergency services and hospital staff support you?

(Elliot) Zak was unconscious for the first few minutes, but by the time the ambulance had arrived, he was awake. It was only a few minutes. I think they must’ve been in the queue of traffic behind the bus; otherwise, it would have been the quickest response ever! A second ambulance also arrived so that we could both be seen, and then the Police arrived. Everybody we spoke to could speak English, which was an absolute comfort, and we were looked after very well on the journey to the hospital.

Do you have a message for the Icelandic healthcare system or other visitors who might find themselves in a similar situation?

(Zak) I’m so grateful they’ve managed to save Elliot’s life. It was touch and go at points, and he suffered several complications, but the staff on the ward were very attentive and their quick actions made sure he pulled through, so we just want to say a huge “takk fyrir”, again, as we couldn’t have done it without them.

One thing I want to remind other travelers about before traveling anywhere is the need to purchase travel insurance. It’s also important to carry your EHIC, GHIC, or other (UK) government-issued national health insurance card too. With that card, you’re treated like a local. So in this instance, if I had traveled without the GHIC card, the ambulance bill alone would have been £1456, but because I have a GHIC card, I only had to pay £52.

What would you like to tell other travelers about the importance of being prepared?

Whoops, it looks like I’ve jumped the gun a little with my advice on travel insurance in the previous question. With regards to road safety in Iceland, I don’t think there’s anything specifically different from anywhere else in Europe. Accidents happen, and they happen in every country, but it is essential to familiarise yourself with the rules and regulations to minimize the chances of being involved in an accident. Elliot and I drive a lot, all over the continent, and we always make sure we know the speed limits, whether our lights should be on 24/7 or not, and who has priority at junctions, etc. Unfortunately, none of this could’ve stopped what happened; we were just unlucky.

What emotions did you experience when stepping back into the hospital

(Elliot) It was really emotional. Seeing those faces again helped save me and made my stay as comfortable as possible. They were all so kind. For example, our thank you card, which we sent when we finally got home to the UK, is still pinned up in the staff room. This meant a lot. I’m glad we went back. I wanted to thank them in person, and it was also important for me to go back to the ward and be able to walk out again, freely, to recognise that I’m not trapped anymore.

What surprised you the most about Icelandic culture or people during this journey?

(Zak) When I first posted the TikTok video about the crash, I did not expect it to take off as much as it did. Initially, I filmed for myself. I needed to get my emotions out. I posted it online a few days later, and it went viral overnight. Suddenly, I was inundated with messages of support and offers of help from all corners of the country. The next day, a lady called Gem came up outside the hospital with really thoughtful gifts from her shop. We will treasure it for the rest of our lives.

As the days passed, I kept posting updates, and local businesses began to contact me, offering food and drink, places to stay, even a haircut, and experiences that we could enjoy if we were to return later. Even a government minister sent us some gifts and a card! We were both blown away by the human kindness on offer. It felt like Icelanders had taken it personally that one of their own had not only stolen our big adventurous holiday from us, but had also almost taken our lives. It was as if the whole country was saying “sorry” and giving us a big warm hug.

Do you see yourself returning to Iceland and vacationing here?

(Zak) As you know, we came back in October to say thank you to the hospital staff.  We could also accept some of those offers that local businesses sent us back then. Our stay was four days, and we crammed in as much as possible! We went on a food walk, took a boat out to go whale watching, enjoyed a bus tour of the Snaefellsnes Peninsula, and the Northern Lights even came out to play more than once! I’m sure we’ll be back in 2025 too, but we still want to see the north of the country.

What advice do you have for those visiting Iceland for the first time?

(Elliot) Please be extra careful if you’re renting a car. What we went through was unlucky. However, it’s best to do everything you can to minimise risk, so please just be careful. Other than that, bring a hat and a big coat! We love the cold; that’s why we first came here anyway, and it certainly didn’t disappoint us. The air is so crisp and really fresh, it’s probably the most natural, unspoiled place I’ve ever been. Oh, and don’t step on the moss under any circumstances!

What are your favorite activities and places in Iceland?

(Zak) We enjoyed whale watching when we came back. But to be honest, the main reason for our visit back in April was to marvel at the geography of the place. We were thoroughly looking forward to seeing the glaciers and waterfalls on the south coast. Furthermore, we wanted to visit Thingvellir National Park to stand between the American and Eurasian continental plates. Before the crash, we had a closer look at the ongoing volcanic eruption near Grindavik, which was otherworldly. We also managed to see Strokkur Geysir, which was just incredible. I’m not sure how Icelanders feel about the Eurovision Movie, so I’m sorry if you hear this a lot and are getting fed up with it. I’m a big fan of the contest, so I still want to go to Husavik and, of course, visit the miniature museum at Ja Ja Ding Dong!

What would you like readers of this interview to take from your story?

(Elliot) That human kindness is still out there. There are a lot of bad things going on in the world. Therefore, we hope that this story brings a smile or two to your faces. We went through hell and back, and we’re still suffering from the effects of the crash, but without the outpouring of love and kindness from Iceland and its people, we wouldn’t have gotten here, and for that, we’re forever grateful.