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Disaster masters return home to heroes' welcome

Paul Maher
20/10/2005

STOCKPORT firefighter Jon Heydon has returned home safe after spending a week rescuing casualties from the Asian earthquake, which killed around 40,000 on October 8.

Jon, of King Street station, flew out to the disaster zone, with six other members of the Greater Manchester Search and Rescue Team, in order to add specialist expertise and equipment to the rescue effort.

Based in Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistan-controlled Kashmir, Jon and the team were some of the first rescuers to arrive in the region and worked almost continuously over the first 48 hours - only stopping to rest when back up crews arrived.

The team braved the risk of aftershocks for seven days in total and saved the lives of 24 people - who were trapped under collapsed buildings - making it the most successful rescue effort in the team's history.

Jon said: "Working on collapsed buildings, with the potential of aftershocks, is incredibly dangerous.

"We know it is only a matter of time before a rescue worker loses their life. So we are glad to be back in one piece, relatively unscathed and with a personal sense of satisfaction that Greater Manchester has been able to help."

Having previously worked on earthquakes in Algeria, Turkey and India, the team is experienced at working in disaster zones.

It does, however, claim that the mountainous nature of the region and the consequential land and mudslides - brought about by the earthquake - made this rescue mission one of the most difficult.

Added Jon: "I've personally been to three earthquakes but this had to be the most frustrating, as we struggled to get resources where we wanted.

But he went on: "The military and police were very helpful and the local people were fantastic.

"They have been forced to live in makeshift shelters but were there providing us with bowls of rice and tea and sharing whatever small resources they had.

"We were all witness to their generosity; it was really quite humbling."

Jon's wife Debra, who said the whole family were "immensely proud" of what he has achieved, welcomed Jon home along with their young son earlier this week.