INDIAN earthquake survivor Parth Joshi and his father returned to India on Sunday after a six-week stay in England with Okehampton-based Rapid UK.

Parth, who was fitted with an artificial limb after a fundraising appeal to bring him to England, is said to be taking to his new leg like a 'duck to water'.

Rapid UK vowed to help Parth recover from the ordeal of the earthquake which killed his mother and brother. The 11-year-old lay trapped in rubble for 96 hours and was rescued by a team from the charity after an operation lasting nine hours.

One of the members of the team, Newquay paramedic Nick Spence, will receive a care award from the ambulance service on July 1 for his part in the rescue operation.

During his stay in England for treatment Parth was given a number of surprise treats by his hosts, including a helicopter flight from Okehampton, a trip to Lords Cricket Ground, a surfing lesson and a tour of HMS Cornwall at Devonport Dockyard in Plymouth.

Director of Rapid UK Graham Payne said Parth would be returning to England in 12 months' time for a new fitting and this would be repeated several times until he reached adulthood.

He said it was very rewarding to see him getting on so well with his new leg.

'The doctors and physiotherapists are really pleased with him — he is taking to it like a duck to water,' he said.

Rapid UK responds to disasters all over the world but has never become personally involved in this way before.

'This really is a one-off for us because there are other agencies who deal with this kind of thing but the fact was everybody got so attached to him.'

The fundraising campaign to bring Parth to England, which received overwhelming support from local people, raised £12,000.