Haiti: Firefighters return 'humbled' after search for survivors

Published on Saturday 23 January 2010 19:45

BRITISH firefighters spoke yesterday of the "humbling experience" of hunting for survivors among the ruins of Haiti's devastating earthquake as they were welcomed home by their families.

After landing at Manchester Airport, the 17 men from Greater Manchester and Lancashire were praised by one senior officer for working "wonders" in the ravaged Caribbean country.

The firefighters helped rescue four people from the aftermath of the earthquake as part of the UK's International Search and Rescue team.

One of those saved was a two-year-old girl, whom firefighters named Mia. She was pulled from the rubble of a kindergarten in the capital Port-au-Prince on the team's first day of deployment.

Father of three Andrew Roughley, 48, of Monton, Greater Manchester, was among those greeted by their partners, wives and children at the airport.

He said: "The determination of the people out there is something to be admired. They are very appreciative of what you do. It is hard not to pity them but you have to see the bigger picture and do the job you were sent to do."

With his seven-year-old daughter, Fay holding him, he added: "Our success out there was all due to teamwork."

Dean Nankivell, 43, from Glossop, received a present from his four-year-old son, Ben, who gave him a teddy bear, sporting the words "I Love You". The youngster said: "Daddy has been on the other side of the world."

The firefighter said: "It was a very humbling experience. Very satisfying and very frustrating, and at times very lonely.

"Within the time we had there, a guy at the United Nations team said we were recognised as the best in the world.Among those we helped was a 65-year-old man trapped in a building for four days. He was virtually entombed, all you could see was his big toe. We assisted Kent firefighters in dragging him out but as we did so there was an aftershock and we had to get out very quickly. He was right as rain, though."

His wife, Julie, said: "I'm very proud of him and glad that he's safe and well and back home now."