Despite being a firefighter for almost 20 years, Emma Atcherley admits that even she was shocked at what she witnessed earlier this year. Arriving on the scene of a city which had been largely flattened by an earthquake just a few of days earlier.
"The noise was incredible with the sound of sirens 24-hours a day as ambulances rushed around and diggers worked everywhere," the 43-year-old from Bedwas said. "The air was absolutely filled with dust and the people you came across were clearly in shock, upset and distraught. As time went on the smells started to change as people died in the rubble. It was sombre and frantic with emotions ranging from people being incredibly happy and thankful to us for saving their loved ones, to being so upset that we couldn't help them because their loved ones had already died."
A member of the fire service for nearly 20 years, Emma is currently a crew manager with South Wales Fire and Rescue Service based in Cardiff. Since 2019 she has also volunteered her skills with the United Kingdom International Search and Rescue Team (UK-ISAR), a group of firefighters and specialist personnel from across the UK who respond to humanitarian accidents or disasters on behalf of the UK Government.
