By Gary Chapman
CYPRUS TODAY
August 21 - 27, 1999.
ISSUE No. 401
A COLLEAGUE of
the first Briton to be found dead among the earthquake rubble had also
contacted the Internet Education Centre in Girne before learning the
tragic news.
It was confirmed
on Thursday that 65-year old Tom Blackwood of Stevenage, Hertfordshire,
was among victims at the Golcuk Naval Base. As a contractor for the
UK firm, Matra Marconi Space, the tall blue-eyed Irishman was involved
in ship refitting.
David Thomas had
received an e-mail earlier in the day from a fellow worker saying that
neither London's Foreign Office nor his relatives had heard anything.
"His wife
and family and the company have heard nothing," said the message.
"All we know is that the gentleman in the next room to him survived
... I think we become immune to all the death and disaster that we see
on the news and it is not brought home to you, until a person you know
is actually involved ... I know the odds are not good by we live in
hope."
Sadly, later, while
the e-mail message sender was "off-line", news was received
in Girne that the man was among the dead at the airbase.
Internet Education
Centre tutor Terry Thomas said: "This was news of our 'first loss'
and we were pondering on how to handle it, but the information had already
been relayed through official channels when we re-established contact."
An e-mail was sent
from David reading: "I am terribly sorry. We are all very upset."
The reply was: "... I think it was expected, but it is still a
shock."
David told Cyprus
Today: "A lot of the messages we have had are very sad - it's hard
to keep our composure."