Thousands of pounds raised by Shropshire paramedic heading to Nepal

A total of more than £8,000 has been raised by paramedic friends Ed Hullah, from Newcastle-on-Clun, near Craven Arms, and Phil Llewellyn, from Pershore, across the border in Worcestershire.

The duo first visited Nepal to offer their skills and experience following the disaster around 80 miles north-west of the capital Kathmandu in May, 2015. There was a second earthquake near the Chinese border while they were there.

When they returned home the two set up 'Rebuild Nepal', a not-for-profit organisation raising funds to help provide safer earthquake-resistant houses and public buildings.

Now Phil is flying back out to the disaster-hit country to hand over more than £8,000 raised to help victims of last year's earthquakes.

The money is from a range of fundraising drives and events in the region over the past year, but £2,300 alone is from Ed's fundraising page, www.gofundme.com/medicalaidfornepal

Phil said he and Ed had given talks and presentations at schools, scout groups and GP surgeries about their experiences in Nepal since returning which had all contributed to the appeal, and he also helped organise a summer ball at Bank House Hotel in Bransford, near Worcester to raise money.

The money will all go to a single village, Kaule, where Phil has a longstanding friend whose family and community were wiped out by the earthquakes.

Phil will be joined by eight other people, among them doctors, nurses and colleagues from West Midlands Ambulance Service who will take with them clothes, stationary, medical supplies and toiletries for the villagers.

He said: "Tourism has fallen significantly in the country. Nepal needs tourism to survive, that is their income.

"So, as well as donating the money and supplies, the group will go on an organised trek organised by my friend because that is how he earns his living.

"We need to encourage tourists to return to the area."

Ed said previously: "We intend to introduce safer earthquake resistant houses and public buildings, with links to different relief projects throughout Nepal.

"It is vital that public service buildings, such as schools and healthcare facilities are rebuilt as soon but as safely as possible."

While in Charikot, the epicentre of the earthquake, treating patients last year, the pair made headlines when they commandeering the Nepali Prime Minister's helicopter during his visit to the area, to save the life of a woman who had been trapped under rubble and had been waiting an hour to be airlifted to hospital.