Camera problems while on holiday

This message is a bit urgent as I'm actually abroad on holiday at the moment and my pentax camera has completely died. No sure about the model or make but it's just an average camera about a year old with a little zoom. I was about to take a photo when all of a sudden it just stopped and started flashing 'H1' or maybe it was 'HI' it then changed to falsh 'H5' before returning to flash the 'HI'. I can't even turn the camera off or close the lens, whenever I try to press any other button it makes this horrible grinding noise. Obviously me being on holiday means I desperatley need this sorted! I don't have the manuel with me and couldn't find any sort of helpline on the internet so help would be appreciated!

I can't give you a specific answer to the code the camera gives you, but basic advice would be to try new batteries before assuming the worst. The grinding noise does not sound good, and if you're on holiday you will want to take pictures, so there is a problem. Buying another camera could be the only viable option if new batteries do not solve the problem - perhaps buying second hand if there is a suitable local source. As a real low cost last resort perhaps even a disposable camera would be better than nothing?

Is yours an Espio 120Mi? - see my message posted today

GRINDING NOISE!!! bad thing, I think by your description that it is a small "point and shoot" camera; the grinding noise is probably from the mechanism that moves the zoom lens in and out. So the only solution is reapear or replacement, theres nothing you can do beside trying new batteries.

If you want to reapair, be carefull !! sometimes is cheaper to get a new one.