Among the experts sent this week to Turkey to help in the mission to rescue victims from the rubble of the earthquake was Nick Spence, a paramedic from Landulph.

Nick is employed by the Westcountry Ambulance Trust, and left for Istanbul earlier this week as part of a team from the relief organisation Rapid UK. During the period of the Eclipse he was based at Derriford Hospital, but has been with Rapid UK since its inception about four years ago. He has previously travelled to Honduras and Columbia to help with rescue missions, and has also been a member of the International Rescue Corps.

Now living in Plymouth, he is part of a ten man team in Turkey.

He said of the work that it is unpaid and voluntary but he has the 'great satisfaction of helping to save lives.' He said: "It is difficult getting time off work at very short notice, but my supervisors are very sympathetic.'

On his return he will take the time he has taken off either as annual leave, or will work extra hours to cover it.

Also going with the Rapid UK team are two rescue dogs, Lucy and Elliott, and their handlers. The team left from Heathrow on Wednesday.