A RYEDALE man who experienced first hand the devastating earthquake in Nepal is urging people to support the disaster appeal to help get the country back on its feet.

Samuel Mills, from Norton, had travelled to the country to teach English at a village school just outside Kathmandu.

The 24-year-old, who had been previously working at Morrisons in supermarket in Malton, had been looking for a challenge when he joined the four-month voluntary programme.

Sam said he had been living with a local family and had settled well in Nepal.

“I had been welcomed as if I was one of the family and really felt like the country was my home,” he added.

On the day the earthquake struck, Samuel had travelled to a temple in a rural area near Pharping with friends who were visiting during the school half-term holiday.

“It was around noon and we were sat around talking when the dogs suddenly bolted and the birds shot up into the sky,” he added.

“There was a man stood nearby who suddenly became white with fear and everyone started to begin running into an open space.”

Samuel said the earthquake had only lasted for a minute but during that time the ground was shaking horrendously.

“There were women crying and kids screaming – even after the main earthquake stopped you still felt as though you were moving,” he added.

“Over the next few hours everyone tried to get back to Kathmandu so the buses were absolutely crammed and because the outer ring road had been shut we still had a three-hour walk to get back.”

Samuel said they saw countless buildings destroyed, with people digging through the rubble.

“It was so strange as suddenly all the familiar points we had grown to know were not there or had been damaged,” he added.

“Luckily in my own village they had been working out in the fields so only two people were killed.”

Samuel said for the first four days after the earthquake the majority of people had slept outside for fears of further tremors.

“Despite what had happened they remained optimistic and doing the best with what they had in the situation,” he added.

Working with the relief effort in Kathmandu, Samuel made two food drops to remote areas driving for seven hours followed by an hour’s walk to reach the villages.

“It was just horrendous to see the damage that had been done,” he added.

“Whole villages had been destroyed with the people left without homes or livelihoods.”

Samuel said he had struggled to get in touch with his own family in Norton, but had managed to get brief messages to friends via the internet.

“When I went to the British Embassy they were keen that we left the country as we were using food and water and there as a risk of disease,” he added.

“Although I would have been happy to stay I eventually got a flight to Thailand where I intended to continue travelling but I became ill and my mind wasn’t in it so I decided to come home.”

Samuel said everyone had been relieved to see him and friends had since rallied round to organise fundraising events for the Nepal Earthquake Disaster Appeal.

“Now is the time that these people need help to rebuild their homes and their livelihoods,” he added.

“This happened at the peak of the tourist season and if they do not get people back they will not reap the benefits that visitors to the country bring.”

Samuel said that he hoped to go back to Nepal before Christmas.

“The country has given me the most momentous four months of my life and I would go back in a heartbeat to help the people of Nepal who mean so much to me.”