CHESHIRE firefighters who pulled bodies from the rubble in New Zealand have revealed the ‘total devastation' they witnessed.
Seven firefighters from Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service flew to New Zealand to help in the rescue mission, searching through the rubble in the city of Christchurch devastated by the earthquake.
Back in the UK after the 15-day operation, the firefighters spoke of the challenge in a 'community silenced by trauma'.
The men - Winsford HQ station managers Mark Coleman and Stuart Devereux, Winsford firefighter Andy Hurst, Chester crew manager Gareth Scott, Runcorn watch manager Mark Bushell, Knutsford crew manager Daryl Codling and Chester watch manager Paul Bickerton - battled to dig through the wreckage as aftershocks ripped through the buildings.
Mr Coleman said: “When we arrived we were met by a scene of total devastation – it was shocking to see a thriving community silenced by such a traumatic event.
“We focused on using our specialist skills and training to try and locate any further casualties.”
The crew, part of a UK International Search and Rescue (ISAR) team, searched and cleared three city blocks but found no survivors in the rubble of the buildings.
As part of the rescue attempt the team took on a gruelling 150-hour search of the collapsed Pyne Gould Corporation office block, made even more challenging by a number of aftershocks measuring as high as five on the Richter Scale.
Sadly the team found no survivors in the building, but they did recover 13 bodies, which helped give closure to the families of the victims.
Mr Coleman concluded: "I don't think there was a single member of the UK team who did not at some time shed a tear.
“I am really glad that we were able to make a difference and help the people of Christchurch recover from this terrible event.”
