An Audlem couple have escaped with their lives after being caught up in this week’s devastating earthquake in New Zealand.
Peter and Janet Morgan, currently on holiday in the country, were in Christchurch Cathedral when the earthquake struck at around midnight UK time on Tuesday.
They emerged unharmed from the Anglican cathedral which took the full force of the 6.3 magnitude earthquake which has so far left 98 people dead and around 2,500 people injured.
Mr Morgan, a member of Audlem Parish Council, and his wife, a retired primary school teacher, sheltered under a table in the cathedral’s gift shop and were later led away to safety.
The couple were with relatives, John and Chris Downes, in the cathedral at the time of the earthquake but will continue with their holiday.
Ben Morgan, the couple’s son, said: “My parents had just been to a Holy Communion service at the cathedral with my uncle and aunt and were in the gift shop when the earthquake struck.
“Fortunately, the gift shop is a relatively new, steel-framed building so despite being knocked off their feet by the force of the tremors, they were otherwise physically unharmed.
“They sheltered under a table and then exited into the clouds of dust and debris in the square after the initial shocks finished.
“They eventually decided to return to their hotel, which overlooks the cathedral, but a policewoman told them there was no chance of that and they had better try to get out of the city centre.
“Their initial reaction was to think of coming home as soon as possible but as they recover from the shock of the situation, they have decided to remain in New Zealand.
“Their overriding feelings are of being blessed to have escaped alive and without serious injury after coming so close to this tragedy.”
Ben said he and the couple’s other son, Tom, had been “inundated” with messages of good wishes for their parents and they praised the people of Audlem for their support.
“To celebrate their retirement and to enjoy some quality time together, my parents organised this trip where they could do some sightseeing and catch up with old friends and family.
“In their own words, what they had planned as a once-in-a-lifetime holiday has now become an experience they are never going to forget.”
By Winston Brown