Welsh Ambulance workers support Turkey earthquake rescue effort

Two Welsh Ambulance Service workers have travelled to Turkey to support the earthquake rescue effort.

Nigel Jones, an Emergency Medical Technician in Bassaleg, and Robert Reynolds, a Hazardous Area Response Team paramedic in Bridgend, journeyed to Turkey in their spare time to help with the rescue efforts.

February’s 7.8 magnitude earthquake in Turkey and Syria killed more than 56,000 people and injured thousands more, many of whom were trapped beneath the rubble.

Nigel was deployed in mid-February for 16 days with RE:ACT, an emergency and crisis response charity operation in the UK and overseas.

The 58-year-old said: “I was part of a two-person recce team to Turkey to assess the disaster on the ground, gain situational awareness and connect with partners to establish how best to provide support and what humanitarian aid was needed.

“Whilst search and rescue teams continued to look for people trapped, we met local people to find out what their immediate needs were and fed the information back to the United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination team, who could then ensure the correct type of aid was delivered.

“We were based in Hatay Stadium near Antakya but travelled all over the province. I think we covered a couple of 1,000 miles over the two weeks.

“There were buildings either demolished or on the verge of crumbling.

“We experienced quite a few aftershocks that we actually got used to it. I was there when the second earthquake hit, and it threw me off my stool, I couldn’t stand up.

“Considering everything they had lost, the hospitality of people was incredible.”

Meanwhile, Robert was deployed at the start of March with Samaritan’s Purse, an international relief and development organisation that works through local churches.

He returned to Wales on 02 April, concluding his last triage on 31 March.

Nigel Jones

The 61-year-old said: “Samaritan’s Purse established an emergency field hospital in Turkey, which included two emergency operating rooms, four intensive care unit beds and a pharmacy.

“They also distributed thousands of tents as well as food boxes and hygiene kits.

“Thousands of the injured were brought to the field hospitals, with the team seeing about 150 patients every day.

“I was taking x-rays, triaging patients and working alongside the Turkish Ministry of Health. The two surgical suits completed about 300 surgeries, while I was there.

“I’ve seen a range of injuries working as a paramedic in Wales, but it doesn’t compare to what I’ve witnessed in Turkey.

“We would be working 14-hour shifts, but the gratitude from the patients made it absolutely worthwhile.”

Jason Killens, Chief Executive at the Welsh Ambulance Service, said: “Team WAST is full of remarkable people doing remarkable things.

“Robert and Nigel are two examples of staff going above and beyond, contributing to saving lives across Wales and now Turkey.

“Thank you for your extraordinary effort and commitment.”