Fire Chief's Tribute To Tsunami Victims

11 March 2012, 10:32 | Updated: 12 March 2012, 12:18

Hertfordshire's Chief Fire Officer's paid tribute to the victims of the devastating earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan a year ago.

Roy Wilshire led the UK international search and rescue team in Japan searching for survivors.

He was one of 59 fire fighters and four medics who flew out to the country to help search for survivors of the disaster that claimed the lives of 19,000 people.

Roy Wilshire spoke at a memorial service at the Japanese Embassy on Sunday 11 March 2012 - the tenth anniversary of the disaster - where he was joined by Japan's ambassador to the UK, Keiichi Hayashi.

Remembering the sights that greeting the UK rescuers when they arrived in Ofunato and Kamaishi last year he said: 'It was a very moving scene, one that will stay with everyone who was there.

'Our priority was searching for survivors and closely monitoring the situation with the Fukushima nuclear plant, less than 100 kilometres away from us. There was lots of devastation all around, but we focused on what we were there to do as this was what we had trained for.'