Stafford businesswoman vows to rebuild after Typhoon Haiyan ruins dive school
Her business was built up through years of hard work and torn apart within minutes in one of the worst storms in history.
But Andrea Agarwal remains defiant in the face of Typhoon Haiyan's devastation – and is determined to help families struggling to survive.
The Stafford-born diving instructor is leading relief efforts on the island of Malapascua in the Philippines, where the storm has left a trail of destruction.
Miss Agarwal, originally from Tillington, is now delivering food, water and medical equipment to residents, and has already helped raise £30,000 in donations from customers and people across the world on social media.
Her Thresher Shark Divers school lost its roof and is surrounded by piles of debris.
Miss Agarwal set up the business with her partner Trevor Holmes, after they travelled there in 2003 to find work as diving instructors.The former Sir Graham Balfour School pupil said: "We'll rebuild and reopen as soon as possible and we will help the locals put their lives back together too.
"Incredibly no lives were lost in this small close-knit community of only 7,000 and so there is much to be thankful for. I am very positive about the future."
Over the last nine days, she has relived the terrifying moment when the tornado struck – but it has inspired her to help the families who are without food or shelter. She said: "I was in Cebu City at the time the storm hit, 100km to the south. I have lived through several in the past but never anything like this.
"We lost electric, landlines and cable very quickly, though luckily, cell phones stayed on most of the time.
"I then started getting the message out via our Facebook and emails that everyone was okay and alive. We have 16,000 followers so word got around and I became the come-to person for info on loved ones."
It comes as Kelly Marklove, aged 28, who is from Great Haywood in Stafford, embarks on a separate aid mission this weekend on the island. She has lived in Malapascua since March but her home was badly damaged in the fierce storm .
Meanwhile, Jonathan Fitzpatrick, of Walsall, is preparing to head home after getting caught up in the storm while working on a power station. Mr Fitzpatrick, aged 23, became trapped in his hotel when Typhoon Haiyan struck the city of Ormoc.
