Student tells of Nepal 'quake terror
Freddie Kanisius Pocock is fundraising for victims
A STUDENT has relived the moment he was caught up in the Nepalese earthquake disaster.
Nineteen-year-old Freddie Kanisius Pocock described an eerie atmosphere in the moments before the quake struck, with birds and animals falling strangely silent.
Then the ground began to shake and Mr Pocock said: “It only started to feel real when a building collapsed behind me.”
The earthquake on April 25 killed more than 8,800 people and injured more than 23,000.
Mr Kanisius Pocock, who lives in Ramsbury, was in the country volunteering during his gap year for the Newbury-based charity, FutureSense Foundation.
He had been working in a school just east of Kathmandu but at the time of the disaster he had headed into the capital with friends.
Mr Kanisius Pocock said: “Had we got there, I don’t know what would have happened, but we were out in the open when it struck. The ground started shaking and swaying and it was hard to stand, let alone run – it was like being on a giant swing.
“Buildings were collapsing and there was dust and people running everywhere. I managed to text home to say I was safe and then the phone signal went down for days.”
Mr Kanisius Pocock found his friends and they headed to the safety of a park. He camped out under the stars, feeling the aftershocks, until he was able to catch a flight home days later.
Mr Kanisius Pocock said: “The earthquake was a very terrifying experience, although it has given me a different perspective so I wish to help out as much as possible.
“My wish is to return to Nepal, to finish my project in the school. Until then I’m trying to raise funds for FutureSense Foundation.
“I have been fund raising for FutureSense by running (in the Ramsbury five-mile run) dressed as a yak, as well as spreading awareness in local schools through talks and sponsored events.”
To boost Mr Kanisius Pocock’s charity total visit virginmoneygiving.com/FreddieKanisiusPocock A STUDENT has relived the moment he was caught up in the Nepalese earthquake disaster.
Nineteen-year-old Freddie Kanisius Pocock described an eerie atmosphere in the moments before the quake struck, with birds and animals falling strangely silent.
Then the ground began to shake and Mr Pocock said: “It only started to feel real when a building collapsed behind me.”
The earthquake on April 25 killed more than 8,800 people and injured more than 23,000.
Mr Kanisius Pocock, who lives in Ramsbury, was in the country volunteering during his gap year for the Newbury-based charity, FutureSense Foundation.
He had been working in a school just east of Kathmandu but at the time of the disaster he had headed into the capital with friends.
Mr Kanisius Pocock said: “Had we got there, I don’t know what would have happened, but we were out in the open when it struck. The ground started shaking and swaying and it was hard to stand, let alone run – it was like being on a giant swing.
“Buildings were collapsing and there was dust and people running everywhere. I managed to text home to say I was safe and then the phone signal went down for days.”
Mr Kanisius Pocock found his friends and they headed to the safety of a park. He camped out under the stars, feeling the aftershocks, until he was able to catch a flight home days later.
Mr Kanisius Pocock said: “The earthquake was a very terrifying experience, although it has given me a different perspective so I wish to help out as much as possible.
“My wish is to return to Nepal, to finish my project in the school. Until then I’m trying to raise funds for FutureSense Foundation.
“I have been fund raising for FutureSense by running (in the Ramsbury five-mile run) dressed as a yak, as well as spreading awareness in local schools through talks and sponsored events.”
To boost Mr Kanisius Pocock’s total visit virginmoneygiving.com/FreddieKanisiusPocock
