Four Lincolnshire Fire Crew tell us their experience looking for survivors in Turkey
They were part of a special UK team sent to help after the earthquakes hit
Last updated 18th Feb 2023
Four crew members from Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue who've taken part in the operation to rescue people following the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria have spoken to us about their experiences.
They went out as part of a 77 strong team from the UK on the 7th February and returned this week.
Colin Calem, crew manager from Sleaford fire station told us being in Hatay in Turkey was his first deployment as part of ISAR team:
"It's hard to put in a scale on how bad it is really. Our sector was two miles long and every single building in that sector was gone or will be gone because it needs to be demolished.
"It's going to be hard to adjust. Even in the short term it's strange not getting up and going out searching through the rubble, as strange as that might sound.
We asked Colin if there was one memory that would stay with him, he told us:
"I think it's hearing that voice the other side in the rubble. As a team we rescued a lady and a gentleman out of a collapsed hotel. We could hear a voice but we couldn't find her.
"After 19 hours we got them both out safe and well."
Neil Woodmansey - Handler for Colin the Collie who also went out to help, told us the support from people has been great:
"We had some really lovely messages, especially when Colin (the dog) got his injury and he had 8 stitches. He was back searching 24 hours after the surgery."
Mark Dungworth is one of the four crew members who went to Hatay and has been telling us his experience , and says it'll be difficult to rebuild the city:
"It'll be a massively long process - because of the size of the areas hit and the size of the earthquake. But I think with the effort and the help that everyone's put in there I think the will get back to where they were."
Mark Baxter is the Chief Fire Officer at Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue. He says support will continue where it's needed:
"We're really aware that there's still a ongoing humanitarian crisis and our thoughts and prayers are always going to be with the devastation for the communities out there.
"Clearly we will be monitoring and there's much support that can be given across the UK that can support the people as this will go on for many months."
Earlier this week Rishi Sunak said the UK government will provide an extra £25 million pounds to help victims of the Turkey-Syria earthquakes.
The number of dead has now passed 43-thousand, but the United Nations says that figure could rise to above 50-thousand.