The 42-year-old volunteer, from Walnut Avenue, Weaverham, is part of a crack unit specialising in digging out earthquake victims.

The team, International Rescue Corps, flew out from Manchester Airport on Sunday having been on stand-by since Friday.

But unfortunately there was fighting in Afghanistan, all flights from Pakistan were full and it would have taken weeks to get to the area.

There was no option but to return.

Dave's partner Dot Tempest said: "I have to be honest, I'm relieved in a way.

"But I'm thinking of the lads out there. They psyche themselves up and the adrenaline gets going as soon as they know they are going.

"It's deflating for them when nothing happens. I don't know how Dave will be feeling."

The earthquake happened on Wednesday in a remote part of Afghanistan high in the mountains. Latest official figures put the death toll at more than 2,000.

Dave, who works as a technician, got a phone call asking him to take part in the mission early on Sunday morning.

"It was all so sudden that we didn't have time to think about it," added Dot. "The phone call came about 2am on Sunday. An hour later he was off."

International Rescue Corps would have faced appalling conditions such as fog, snow and sub zero freezing conditions.

Aftershocks have already claimed more than 200 lives and there is the ever present threat of landslides.

Dave has been involved in many mercy missions since joining the highly trained team of volunteers.

He has helped in earthquakes including Armenia, Costa Rica, Philippines, where he spent days tunnelling for victims and Japan.

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.