BLYTHE House therapists who joined a charity providing stress relief to rescue workers were called up to help at the tragic Warwickshire warehouse fire.
Massage experts Pat Hudson and Pauline Landy had their first call-up as members of REST UK, Response Emergency Stress Team, to provide respite for firefighters, paramedics and police working at the scene.
Four firefighters died as they tackled the blaze at the Atherton-on-Stour warehouse. Experts from all over the country joined an investigation following the disaster.
Pat Hudson said: "This was our first deployment. We worked out of the tent village set up in front of the burnt building."
She said they were called up late on Monday November 5 and dropped everything to set off on Tuesday.
Pat said: "The call came like a bolt out of the blue. The rescue workers were so appreciative. We were there and seeing first-hand what they do and the conditions they work in. I have absolute admiration for them.
"Over the two days the REST team treated over 50 members of the emergency services. While they are on their breaks we give a 20 minute in-chair massage to help them relax and prepare them for getting back into the situation."
She said the scene was very sombre and reverent when the families came to see the bodies taken away.
"It was very moving, to see the streets lined with people in silent respect," she added.
REST UK was set up in the wake of the 9/11 bombings after the founders were called to New York to help a similar stress relief charity.
Five years ago they decided to set up a similar organisation in the UK, engaging the voluntary services of fully-qualified massage therapists to attend crisis scenes.
Pat and Pauline, who both live in Chapel-en-le-Frith joined the charity after reading articles about REST in therapy magazines.
They both work at Blythe House hospice giving terminally-ill people massage, reiki and reflexology.
For more information go to
www.restuk.org.uk or call 01778 570120.
