Courageous local firefighters in Haiti get parliamentary praise

11.57.09am GMT Tue 26th Jan 2010

Mark with local firefighters

Local MP Mark Hunter has co-sponsored a special parliamentary motion congratulating fire-fighters from Greater Manchester Fire Service on their search and rescue efforts in Haiti and extending sympathies to the hundreds of thousands affected by the recent catastrophe.

Members of Greater Manchester Fire Service have been a key part of the search and rescue efforts in Haiti as members of the United Kingdom International Search and Rescue (UK-ISAR) team. Their strong efforts have meant that in Port-au-Prince a 2 year old girl named Mia was saved from under piles of rubble. The Parliamentary motion was tabled by neighbouring MP John Leech, and co-sponsored by Mark.

Commenting, Mark said:

"Heart rending stories of devastation coming from Haiti have touched everybody. We have come together - both locally, nationally and internationally - and the enthusiasm of the British people to dig deep for those affected by this terrible tragedy has been incredible.

"We should all be so proud of our local fire service personnel, who have been out in Haiti as part of the international rescue effort, and are saving lives as a result.

"By co-sponsoring this parliamentary motion I want to send a clear message of thanks and appreciation to our personnel out there, as well as one of deepest sympathy to the hundreds of thousands of people in Haiti that have lost loved ones and are now facing an unbearable situation. It is crucial that these people know that our thoughts are with them."

The Early Day Motion reads:

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 2-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.