Praise for Manchester firefighters' Haiti rescues

10.14.54am GMT Thu 28th Jan 2010

Firefighters from Greater Manchester who rescued a two year-old girl from the rubble of a fallen building in Haiti have been praised in parliament for their lifesaving work.

The Manchester group, led by Pete Stevenson of Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, flew to the earthquake-stricken country to help in the search and rescue effort as part of the United Kingdom International Search and Rescue (UK-ISAR) team. UK-ISAR is on call 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to respond to humanitarian accidents or disasters anywhere in the world.

Lib Dem MP, John Leech, who tabled the parliamentary motion praising the team's work, said:

"The UK International Search and Rescue team sets an incredible example to us all with their bravery and commitment. Haiti has been devastated by the earthquake and the country now needs all the help it can get to get itself back on its feet. We can be rightly proud of the role that Greater Manchester Fire Service in the rescue effort"

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Notes to editors

1. Early Day Motion 693

GREATER MANCHESTER FIRE SERVICE SEARCH AND RESCUE WORK IN HAITI

25.01.2010

Leech, John

That this House congratulates firefighters from Greater Manchester Fire Service on their search and rescue efforts in Haiti as members of the United Kingdom International Search and Rescue (UK-ISAR) team; notes the combined 180 years of fire and rescue experience of the Greater Manchester team led by Pete Stevenson with Simon Cording, Andy Roughley, Martin Fisher, Martin Foran, Vic Kopicki, Dean Nankivell, John Hughes, Mick Dewar and search dog Echo; praises the lifesaving rescue work carried out by the Greater Manchester team, including the rescue of Mia, a two year-old girl from under piles of rubble in Port-au-Prince; extends its deepest sympathies to the people of Haiti on the enormous loss they have suffered; and expresses hope that the work of the UK-ISAR team will assist Haitians to rebuild their lives and country.