PICTURES: Bexhill couple caught up in Kos earthquake

Some of the damage caused as a result of the quake. Picture by Shaun Penfold SUS-170108-121401001

Shaun Penfold, 53, and Pamela Packman, 54, together with Pamela’s three-and-a-half-year-old grandson Oscar were enjoying a holiday there when the quake struck.

Shaun, of Kenton Close, said: “It was very scary. We wondered what on earth it was. It was a real experience.

“We were staying in Mastichari, around 15 miles from Kos Town itself. We’d been out the previous evening.

The damaged harbour in Kos. Picture by Shaun Penfold

“We were in bed and all of a sudden at around 1.30am tremors woke us up. There was vibrating and everything was moving. My partner’s grandson’s bed was also moving side to side but he slept through the whole thing.”

He added that a few hours later that same morning there was another big tremor.

Shaun said: “There were around six in total over the two days we were there.

“We drove to Kos Town and saw the extent of the damage.

Debris was left strewn in Kos Town. Picture by Shaun Penfold

“There was debris all over the place. We saw the damage as we drove along the coast.

“In Kos Town we parked by the harbour where most of the damage had taken place. The harbour wall had been lifted up by a mini tsunami.

“It was scary. So much damage was caused to lots of ancient buildings, some dating back to Roman times.

“I was amazed by the locals there just getting on with clearing the debris up and how they all got together to get Kos back to what it was. Kos relies on tourism and this is the only way the island can rebuild.”

Around 200 people were injured as a result of the quake, which affected resorts in Greece and Turkey. Picture by Shaun Penfold

Two people were killed and five more seriously injured on the island of Kos after the quake, measuring 6.5 on the Richter scale, struck tourist destinations around the Aegean Sea in the early hours of July 21. A further 200 people in Greek and Turkish coastal towns were injured.

The epicentre was six miles south of the Turkish resort of Bodrum and 10 miles from Kos.

Shaun said: “We will be going back to Kos next year as we have been for the last eight years.”

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Shaun Penfold, Pamela Packman and her grandson Oscar

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