Hamilton doctor returning to Canada thought he'd be killed as he fled Tehran during bombings

A Hamilton doctor is returning to Canada after leaving Tehran as Israeli bombs fell on Iran's capital.

It was a "frightening and sad" experience, Dr. Panid Borhanjoo told CBC Radio's Metro Morning on Tuesday before boarding a flight from Istanbul to Toronto.

Borhanjoo, who had been visiting family and staying with his grandmother outside Tehran, recounted waking up to hundreds of messages on Friday from concerned friends and family.  He learned that overnight, Israel had launched a surprise attack on Iran's military and nuclear program. 

Since then, the two countries have been launching airstrikes at each another.

Iranian officials have said Israeli strikes have killed at least 224 people and wounded more than 1,200 since Friday. Israeli officials say Iranian strikes have killed 24 people in Israel and wounded more than 500.

Borhanjoo said his flight home was cancelled and he knew he'd have to find his own way out. 

Everything felt like it was happening quickly, he said, adding he could hear explosions and see drones in the sky. 

"I thought I was going to get killed."

LISTEN | One Hamilton doctor's journey from Tehran back to Canada:

Metro Morning10:27One Hamilton doctor's journey from Tehran back to Canada

It was the sound of bombs which shook Panid Borhanjoo from his sleep. The Hamilton doctor was visiting family in Iran. As the Canadian government urged its citizens to leave, Panid watched flight after flight out of the country get cancelled. 

Eventually, Borhanjoo said, he found a driver who took him to Iran's border with Turkey, then another driver who drove him into that country, where he was able to find a flight home.

There have been traffic jams as people have attempted to flee Tehran, but not everyone can get to safety.

One resident, Amir Hossein Mousavi, told CBC News that won't be possible for him.  

"Some people might have money. Maybe they can leave, but us? I don't think we're going anywhere," he said.  

WATCH | People try to flee Tehran as airstrikes continue:

People try to flee Tehran as airstrikes continue

4 days ago

Duration 2:26

Panicked residents of Tehran tried to flee the city after warnings from Israel of more airstrikes and some Iranian missiles managed to get through Israel’s defence systems.

Borhanjoo said his mother and other family members are still in Iran, and communicating with them has been difficult.

On Tuesday, some media reported Iranian officials were limiting internet access in what they described as an effort to combat covert Israeli operations. 

"When my mom hugged me, she said, 'If this is the last time I'm seeing you, I love you.' That's not something I'll ever be able to forget," Borhanjoo said.

"I just wish all my family and all Iranians peace and safety because it's a beautiful country that is currently a bloody playground."