Tsunami 2004 - 20 Year Anniversary
Discussion
This year will be the 20th anniversary of the Tsunami. Such a tragic disaster on a massive scale.
Due to the field of employment I'm in I went out to Thailand soon after to help ID the corpses so they could be reunited with their loved ones. I remember watching it live on the news on Boxing Day 2004 and then my phone rang asking if I would be available to go and be prepared to be on 24/7 standby for the go ahead from the UK government.
Absolutely gruesome work being surrounded by so many dead bodies but at the same time it is one of the highlights of my life. The sights I was fine with but the smell was the worst thing for me, I was wrenching every day but never actually sick. Couldn't eat breakfast though as I knew I'd be sick otherwise. Come evening we were back at the 5 star hotel eating fantastic food and drinking Singha beer. Quite surreal and the memories will stay with me for life.
There's a set of documentaries currently showing on TV, I'm recording them to watch on Boxing Day and will be a time to give some thoughts to those who lost their lives, and their loved ones.
Due to the field of employment I'm in I went out to Thailand soon after to help ID the corpses so they could be reunited with their loved ones. I remember watching it live on the news on Boxing Day 2004 and then my phone rang asking if I would be available to go and be prepared to be on 24/7 standby for the go ahead from the UK government.
Absolutely gruesome work being surrounded by so many dead bodies but at the same time it is one of the highlights of my life. The sights I was fine with but the smell was the worst thing for me, I was wrenching every day but never actually sick. Couldn't eat breakfast though as I knew I'd be sick otherwise. Come evening we were back at the 5 star hotel eating fantastic food and drinking Singha beer. Quite surreal and the memories will stay with me for life.
There's a set of documentaries currently showing on TV, I'm recording them to watch on Boxing Day and will be a time to give some thoughts to those who lost their lives, and their loved ones.
Harrowing times
My reporting Sgt many years ago was on the body recovery team and he went straight to Lockerbie immediately after the bombing and was there a good while. He also did a number of other scenes. He wanted me to apply for the role .. I politely declined his offer
When I was a Sgt I recommended one of the girls on my shift for a family liaison course
Not long after she'd done it I took a call asking if she was available, had a passport and could fly that day
She was .. and she flew out to Bali that day to assist following the massacre out there
She subsequently went to Australia to assist with the families and then back and forth for awhile before begin out there for about a year when the inquest took place
Harrowing work for sure
My reporting Sgt many years ago was on the body recovery team and he went straight to Lockerbie immediately after the bombing and was there a good while. He also did a number of other scenes. He wanted me to apply for the role .. I politely declined his offer
When I was a Sgt I recommended one of the girls on my shift for a family liaison course
Not long after she'd done it I took a call asking if she was available, had a passport and could fly that day
She was .. and she flew out to Bali that day to assist following the massacre out there
She subsequently went to Australia to assist with the families and then back and forth for awhile before begin out there for about a year when the inquest took place
Harrowing work for sure
Earthdweller said:
....She was .. and she flew out to Bali that day to assist following the massacre out there
She subsequently went to Australia to assist with the families and then back and forth for awhile before begin out there for about a year when the inquest took place
Harrowing work for sure
Harrowing indeed.She subsequently went to Australia to assist with the families and then back and forth for awhile before begin out there for about a year when the inquest took place
Harrowing work for sure
If there is a positive then some good skills and practices were developed in the specialism due to the Tsunami and other disasters. I later went to some terrorist bombings in Egypt, and back to Thailand again for a plane crash. All gruesome in their own way.
Funny you should say that but the girl I mentioned above went on to leave the police and is now a security and crisis consultant and does a lot of lecturing and training as well consulting for Interpol re counter terrorism
It most definitely opened huge doors for her and a massive change from being a response PC at Tottenham
It most definitely opened huge doors for her and a massive change from being a response PC at Tottenham
Every Christmas for 8 years, I’d been to Thailand, basing my self at Kamala Beach, Phucket, then hiring a bike to tour around the country. However, I would always return to Kamala, Christmas Eve through Boxing Day.
At the start of December, I bought a new apartment in Hong Kong. Being small, I thought I would easily finish decorating before Christmas, how wrong was I, I ummed and ahhed should I go or not.
Ultimately, decorating won the day.
At the start of December, I bought a new apartment in Hong Kong. Being small, I thought I would easily finish decorating before Christmas, how wrong was I, I ummed and ahhed should I go or not.
Ultimately, decorating won the day.
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