Royal Marines Lend A Helping Hand To Hurricane Maria's Four Legged Victims

A “Noah’s Ark” of animals have been rescued from the British Virgin Islands by the Royal Marines.

Pets and strays left abandoned after the storm were flown out of the Island on the first commercial flight out of the airport, which was able to open thanks to the work of British troops.

The Marines from 40 Commando worked for two days to get the airport up and running once more after barriers around its perimeter were destroyed by the hurricane.  

This had allowed stray animals, and people, to make their way onto the grounds of the airport.

Eventually, an airliner was able to land bringing 50 passengers to the British Virgin Islands.

As the airliner refuelled, it wasn’t just two-legged passengers checking in…

The 600 homes destroyed by the storm didn’t just leave over one-fifth of the population homeless - there were animal victims as well.

Many of the pets who fled their homes in the chaos have not yet been reunited with their owners.

But now they have been rescued, with many being put up for adoption with the help of animal charities in the area.

A particularly heart-warming sight was that of a Jack-Russell cross named Willow who had been rescued by the Royal Marines.

Leading Seaman Rose Gleghorn of 40 Commando said of the rescue:

“We found her on a small beach only a few miles from the airport.”

“She was sunburnt and dehydrated and in need of some attention. It’s great that she is going to get a new home.”

The hurricane having hit four weeks ago, the British relief effort is now in its final stages, and HMS Ocean is heading for Miami.

RFA Mounts Bay, the Navy’s permanent presence in the Caribbean this autumn, has now returned to Tortola to offload aid.

She played a vital role in restoring the Island to safety, delivering two fire trucks to replce Tortola’s equipment damaged by the storm.

For now, 40 Commando are helping civilian authorities to rebuild the Island, focusing in particular on getting schools up and running once again.

The Royal Marines are helping UNICEF and the Adventist Development and Relief Agency to put up tents which will serve as temporary schools.