The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Tributes to quake dead Italy: Families of three Britons killed praise rescue team efforts
A 14-year-old boy on holiday with his parents is among three Britons killed in the deadly earthquake that rocked central Italy.
A married couple from south London also died following the 6.2 magnitude quake that struck early on Wednesday morning, which left 250 people dead and levelled three small towns.
Theirdevastated families paid tribute to “the tireless work of the Italian rescue workers and hospital staff” as the Queen made a donation to support search and rescue efforts.
A joint statement from their families issued by the Foreign Office said: “It is with sadness that we can confirm the deaths of Maria, 51, and Will, 55, Henniker-Gotley and Marcos Burnett, 14, in the earthquake in Amatrice, Italy on August 24.
“Their families have paid tribute to the tireless work of the Italian rescue workers and hospital staff and expressed their gratitude for the love and support theyhave received from the Italian people. Their thoughts and prayers are with all those affected by the earthquake.”
The Foreign Office was providing support to the families, it added.
A state of emergency has been declared in the areas affected and aftershocks have continued to strike, including one of a preliminary magnitude of 4.7 on Friday morning.
The Queen donated an unspecified amount to the British Red Cross, of which she is a patron, to support the Italian Red Cross in its relief efforts, Buckingham Palace said.
TheQueen and the Duke of Edinburgh have previously said they were “saddened to hear of the loss of l i f e ” and sent their “thoughts and prayers” to the “people of Italy, especially the familyandfriends of those affected”.
Cornwall-based charity Shelterbox has sent a team over to Italy to assist with setting up accommodation for those displaced by the earthquake, while the BritishRedCross has setup a section on its website for donations to be sent to their Italian counterparts.
Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver, meanwhile, announced that for a month £2 from each Pasta Amatriciana dish sold at his restaurant will be sent to help relief efforts.
It is believedMr andMrs Henniker-Gotley owned a property in Sommati, a village about 1.3 miles (2km) from Amatrice.
Their two children, believed to be aged 12 and 14, survived but their condition is unknown.
A neighbour, who did not want to be named, said: “They were very warm and friendly, extremely good neighbours. It’s just soawful to think of their children.”
Marcos and his family were staying with theHenniker-Gotleys.
His parents, AnneLouise and Simon Burnett, were both taken to hospital and their daughter also survived. Her condition is unknown.
The mother and father were initially taken to separate hospitals 40 miles (60km) from each other, where she was treated for facial fractures and he was being treated for a broken leg but were later reunited.
Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said extra staff had been sent to the region to help provide support to Britons, while the Government has offered “any assistance thatwe can” to the Italian authorities.