Heroic firefighters including Ramsbottom's station boss have been thanked after a search and rescue mission to help after the devastating Turkey and Syria earthquakes this year.
A celebration event has been held by Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) to praise brave firefighters who were sent to Turkey after earthquakes struck in February.
More than 45,000 people have since died following the earthquakes with many homes and buildings in Turkey and Syria left ruined.
Volunteers formed a 77-strong UK International Search and Rescue (UK-ISAR) team made up of specialists from 15 fire and rescue services, including firefighters from Leigh, Ashton and Ramsbottom.
Martin Foran, the manager of Ramsbottom and and Heywood fire stations, was part of this team and spoke at the celebration about the “utter devastation” they faced during their rescues.
He said that upon arrival the team encountered a scene of “utter devastation” but, working together, they managed to rescue eight people trapped under flattened buildings.
He added that “GMFRS firefighters were instrumental” in the rescue of seven of the casualties.
The event also praised UK-ISAR members, Leigh fire station watch manager Mike Hirst, Ashton firefighter David Hedgecock and Leigh firefighter Steven Pennington and their families who joined them at the event.
Martin said: “I was really proud to see the ISAR team members recognised with the thank you event, and also for our families to be thanked, as it can be a difficult time for them when we are deployed to help with rescue operations such as those that followed the earthquakes in Turkey."
During their deployment, the team were captured on video using their specialist skills and equipment in several emotional rescues of people who had been trapped in the rubble for days.
GMFRS chief fire officer Dave Russel said: “I’m incredibly proud of our staff for their dedicated work in such harrowing conditions.
“For all the moments of joy, they were part of in rescuing people, we’re acutely aware that there was absolute devastation they experienced over there and how hard that is to deal with.
“It’s important that we not only thank them but also their families, for their dedication.
“When they were over in Turkey we were able to share their updates and see the challenging situations they were facing, and it really captured the hearts of people across Greater Manchester who were very proud of their local firefighters.”
As part of UK-ISAR, GMFRS firefighters were previously deployed to respond to floods in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2014, the earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan in 2011 and the earthquake that hit Haiti in 2010.
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