Unbelievable and yet a now quintessentially Cypriot thing to happen. The incident in question is that doctors at a private hospital in Nicosia stopped mid-operation, dressed the patient in the operating theatre, and proceeded to discharge him on the grounds that there were no beds available for his admittance for treatment post-op on Sunday.

Temperatures will rise to 38C inland on Monday and 40C on Tuesday, several degrees above average, the met office announced in the morning.

On Monday evening temperatures are forecast to drop to 22C in most places and 19C in the higher mountains.

The hot weather is not expected to last, however, and temperatures will gradually drop on Wednesday and Thursday.

A young Portuguese couple riding a quad bike on Sunday afternoon fell off a cliff in the Akamas region and are both in serious condition in Paphos Hospital, according to Philenews.

The 27-year-man is a player with local Doxa football club and he was visiting the wild region with his 22-year-old partner.

The health ministry on Friday issued an urgent plea to the public for blood donations even over the weekend if possible, citing very low reserves.

“We invite new and regular blood donors to come to our blood donation stations and our organised blood drives,” the ministry said.