Phil to return to Nepal

Thursday 17^th March 2016 – 9.35am – Chris Kowalik.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service paramedic will fly back this week to Nepal to hand over more than £8,000 raised to help victims of last year’s earthquakes.

Phil Llewellyn, based in Pershore visited the country in May 2015 following its first earthquake 80km north-west of the capital Kathmandu. While he was there, a second earthquake struck near the Chinese border. He also visited a longstanding friend whose village and family were wiped out.

Since his visit, Phil has given talks and presentations about his experiences in Nepal and helped organise a Summer Ball last year to raise money which he will give to his friend’s community in order for them to rebuild their village.

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.

Phil said: “Tourism has fallen significantly in the country. Nepal needs tourism to survive, for 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 encouraging tourists to return to the area.”