A couple had to make a quick escape after a volcano exploded nearby while they were relaxing in Iceland's Blue Lagoon spa.

Andrew, 27, and Ale Kenney, 29 are on a nine month cruise around Scandinavia and last week stopped off in Iceland.

They headed straight to the iconic hot springs after they arrived but after they hopped into the water, the nearby Reykjanes peninsula volcano erupted.

They watched as red-hot lava and smoke plumed from the 3km long fissure, and staff rushed to evacuate the spa, on August 22.

Andrew, from Panama City, Florida, US, said: "Our time slot started at 7pm and we were in there for no more than two hours."

"At 9.26pm is when the lava started running."

Ale added: "I just couldn't believe it and we just looked at each other and started running out. "

"We were the very last people to exit the pool. "

"When we came out, they were handing us towels and telling us to run."

"It was the most adventurous experience we have ever had."

"It felt like a movie."

There were 1,300 people at the spa at the time, they said.

Since 2021, there have been nine eruptions on the peninsula, following the reactivation of geological systems which were dormant for 800 years.