A BANK worker from Chester caught up in the Chile earthquake has postponed his round the world travels to help the aid mission.

Mark Bazley, 22, and his friend Paddy Bleakley, 24, were one month into their nine-month world trip when the 8.8-magnitude earthquake struck on Saturday, February 27, near the city of Concepcion.

The men – who both live in Frodsham – are based in Santiago, 200 miles north east of the epicentre of the earthquake.

News of the earthquake left the men’s families ‘extremely worried’ about their well-being and a lack of power meant they were unable to contact them.

Mark’s mum Sue Bazley, also of Frodsham, said: "We found out about the earthquake on the news about 9.30am on Saturday.

"Mark’s sister Alison and I, and Paddy’s parents, Colette and Brian Bleakley, and family were very worried at first because all the news coverage of Santiago showed collapsed buildings.

"But once power was restored technology, namely Facebook, was our lifeline, closely followed by a telephone conversation.

"About lunch time we received a message to say the boys were OK and we were very relieved.

"I spoke to Mark about 3pm, it was just wonderful to hear his voice."

Former Helsby High School pupil Mark, who works for Barclays in Chester city centre, said it was ‘very intense during the quake’.

He had taken a sabbatical from work to go travelling with his friend.

The pair left on January 31 and arrived in Chile on February 19.

Barrio Bellavista, Santiago, was the second stop of their trip after Rio, Brazil.

Sue, who works for Cheshire West and Chester Council, said: "They were in a state of disbelief at first and a bit shaken and just tried to find out what had happened.

"The British Embassy contacted them to make sure they were OK, which I was very pleased about.

"They were due to move on on Friday however they want to volunteer and help for a while before carrying on with their travels.

"They hope to change their flights so that they can do so and want to move south to Concepcion to help."

The death toll from the earthquake , the biggest to hit Chile in 50 years, now stands at more than 790.