Cheshire fire rescue team

The death toll from the devastating Nepal earthquake, which occurred around 11.30am on April 25, now stands at 8,019, the country’s National Emergency Operations Centre said.

Mark Coleman and Stuart Deveraux, both based at the Service’s Headquarters in Winsford, Alexander Hayes, based at Crewe Fire Station, John Turner and Daz Tennant based at Chester Fire Station, returned to the UK following a ten-day search and rescue mission in Kathmandu.

The team joined the International Search and Rescue Team (UK-ISAR), and initially set to work in Katari, around 25 miles north of Kathmandu.

Around 25 miles north of Kathmandu, an assessment team found a hospital that was completely demolished by the earthquake.

Approximately 1200 people died in the wreckage. No body found alive.

“Initially in the search, we try and focus on finding live people. And because of the initial devastation there were lots of dead bodies,” Mr Coleman said.

“At that time we have to almost leave them to one side and try to focus on the rescue phase, which is very difficult but the people in the community understand and they know that’s the priority.

“Once that was done then we were able to go back and assist with recovery of the dead bodies, which is never an easy task.

“It’s something that you would never ever get used to doing, but fortunately you can see the benefit in the families faces when you trace that body back to them.”

Despite failing to find any live bodies during their trip, the group said their assessment work in some of the ‘self-sufficient’ villages surrounding Kathmandu was invaluable.

Mr Deveraux added: “The greatest impact for us was when were able to get out of Kathmandu and into the villages.

“They are now getting back to normality. That’s what they were striving for because those crops still need tending to and growing because if they don’t do it no-one else is going to do it.”