Israel mission for paramedic
By Jo Deeks on Thursday, 25th April 2002.
A paramedic from Haverhill has left for Israel to help with rescue efforts in Jenin.
Andy Bambridge, 36, who lives at Little Thurlow, near Haverhill, flew out on Saturday as part of a 12-strong team of specialists working for Rapid UK group.
The centre of Jenin refugee camp was reduced to rubble by Israeli forces during recent fighting with Palestinian militants in which hundreds are believed to have died.
Mr Bambridges last such mission was to India in February, where he helped pull 10-year-old boy from the rubble following an earthquake.
They spent long hours painstakingly working to release the child, who had been trapped for 84 hours.
Mr Bambridge works for the East Anglian Ambulance Trust, based in Haverhill, and is allowed to use his holidays to take part in Rapid UK rescue missions and training.
David Cleamen, co-ordmator for Rapid UK, said Ms Bambridge had received only a couple of hours notice of the trip and could not say how long it would last.
The team works with the United Nations and if fighting erupted again, putting them in danger they would be pulled out.
“We were originally requested on Thursday last week to have a team on standby but they were stood down.
“Then we had another request on Saturday evening and they went.
“We are a disaster search and rescue team. A number of buildings have been knocked down and there could be people trapped in basements etc. They will be looking for people who are alive and trying to get them out,” Mr Cleamen said.
Mr Bambridge has worked with the group for about two years and is one of a team of 26 highly-valued volunteers who travel to natural disasters or trouble spots around the world.
Andy Bambridge, 36, who lives at Little Thurlow, near Haverhill, flew out on Saturday as part of a 12-strong team of specialists working for Rapid UK group.
The centre of Jenin refugee camp was reduced to rubble by Israeli forces during recent fighting with Palestinian militants in which hundreds are believed to have died.
Mr Bambridges last such mission was to India in February, where he helped pull 10-year-old boy from the rubble following an earthquake.
They spent long hours painstakingly working to release the child, who had been trapped for 84 hours.
Mr Bambridge works for the East Anglian Ambulance Trust, based in Haverhill, and is allowed to use his holidays to take part in Rapid UK rescue missions and training.
David Cleamen, co-ordmator for Rapid UK, said Ms Bambridge had received only a couple of hours notice of the trip and could not say how long it would last.
The team works with the United Nations and if fighting erupted again, putting them in danger they would be pulled out.
“We were originally requested on Thursday last week to have a team on standby but they were stood down.
“Then we had another request on Saturday evening and they went.
“We are a disaster search and rescue team. A number of buildings have been knocked down and there could be people trapped in basements etc. They will be looking for people who are alive and trying to get them out,” Mr Cleamen said.
Mr Bambridge has worked with the group for about two years and is one of a team of 26 highly-valued volunteers who travel to natural disasters or trouble spots around the world.
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