Britons flown from quake-hit monastery in Nepal

A Scots mum stranded in a monastery in disaster-hit Nepal was rescued yesterday a week after the devastating earthquake struck.

Ann Hardie was one of eight Britons marooned at the religious retreat in a remote spot on the Himalayas.

A team of humanitarian experts chartered a helicopter to fly the group to Kathmandu where they later boarded planes bound for the UK.

The rescue came only a day after mum-of-two Ann, of Kirkcaldy, Fife, issued a heartfelt plea to the UK Government to save them.

Her son Graeme said: “As a family we’re delighted mum has been rescued.”

More than 6,000 people have been killed in the worst earthquake to hit Nepal in 80 years.

They include one Briton dual national Hemchandra Rai, 42, a married father of three who lived in Hong Kong.

Many more families are continuing their agonising wait to hear if their loved ones survived the disaster, which triggered avalanches that swept away Everest Base Camp.

Among those confirmed as safe are Edinburgh couple Darren Smith, 27, and Fiona Lamont, 26, who were travelling in the country as part of a year’s sabbatical.

They were about to set off on the Annapurna Circle in central Nepal when the earthquake struck last Saturday.

It took them two days to get a message home after being stranded in an area where communications were knocked out.

It emerged last night they have donated a mercy fund raised before they went travelling to victims of the tragedy.

The couple held an event last year to raise money for good causes they came across while on their year out.

But after witnessing first-hand the devastation last week’s disaster left in its wake, they decided to hand over all their charitable donations.

Darren said: “We have used the money from last year’s fundraiser to help out with the Nepal earthquake.

“Fiona and I have been largely unaffected by these events and feel donating is the best way to help.

“It’s an amazing country and we want to do what we can to help.”

More than 100 Britons, the youngest aged four months and the eldest in their 60s, returned home to emotional scenes on Thursday.

Yesterday an RAF plane, which had brought aid to Nepal, rescued another seven.

Those wishing to donate to the Disasters Emergency Committee appeal for Nepal can call 0370 60 60 900.