HUNDREDS of earthquake survivors were back home last night after a series of flights from stricken parts of Asia.
Sobs of relief and comforting words filled the arrival lounge at Manchester Airport's Terminal 2 as people from Merseyside and across the North West returned throughout yesterday.
Around 200 passengers of flight BY196B from Male in the Maldives were the first batch, arriving at 1am yesterday.
Huddled in blue sheets and clothed in tracksuits donated by Manchester City Council, a steady stream of wide-eyed survivors was reunited with loved ones who had been waiting for several hours.
Several were wheeled into the terminal, bearing signs of foot and leg injuries. Others clung to possessions rescued from the devastation of the tidal wave when it struck the Maldives.
Among those anxiously waiting was Dave Monk, 22, an apprentice joiner from Miller Avenue, Crosby, who had an emotional reunion with father Geoff, 45, who was holidaying with his friend Betty Rogan, 45, when the killer wave struck.
Mr Monk jnr said he had feared his father had died.
As he joined around 60 other anxious relatives, he said: "I didn't think he was coming home. We were told they were missing.
"There's no way I'm letting him go on holiday next year. and if he has to go, he is going to Blackpool."
After embracing his son, father-of-three Geoff, from Crosby, said: "We had a lucky escape, we could have died. It was absolutely horrific - terrifying.
"There were a lot of upset people on the plane and a lot of horror stories. We heard a man had been holding his baby one minute, and the next the tide had taken it away.
"We were lying on the beach when Betty said there was a big wave coming in.
News RSS Feed