LEADING UK search and rescue team Rapid-UK have been mourning the death of the British Consul-General killed in last week?s terrorist attack in Istanbul, who had close links with both Rapid-UK and its Turkish sister organisation.

Okehampton-based Rapid-UK?s attempts to set up and train Turkish rescue group GEA-Rapid were greatly aided by Consul General Roger Short. GEA-Rapid led the operation to find survivors among the ruins of the consul building.

Following an earthquake in Turkey in 1999, Mr Short was personally responsible for securing funding through the British Consulate for Rapid-UK to set up and train Group Ecologic-Active (GEA)-Rapid.

Mr Short had become a close friend and supporter of both GEA-Rapid and Rapid-UK, and had attended passing out ceremonies to present certificates to newly qualified rescue operation members.

Mr Short had also been responsible for finding additional funds for equipment and a minibus which will play a key role in search missions.

A spokeswoman from GEA-Rapid said the destruction at the British Consulate was appalling.

Speaking in tears to Rapid-UK?s operation director last week before the search for survivors was called off, Basak Arpacioglu said the situation was bad, but there were large voids in the rubble and the rescue team would work into the night in an effort to find any survivors.

The bomb attacks on the British Consulate and the HSBC Bank headquarters which occurred in the Turkish capital last Thursday left at least 27 dead and up to 450 injured. Groups with links to Al-Qaida have claimed responsibility for both attacks.

Within hours of the catastrophe Rapid-UK was in communication with both British and Turkish Governments to offer its skills and expertise.

Rapid-UK have more than eight years? worldwide experience in locating and rescuing survivors of disasters, and previously travelled to Turkey to help four years ago in the aftermath of an earthquake.

After speaking to the British Department for International Development following the attack, the charity was on stand-by to travel to Turkey should they be needed.