A man from West Peckham was one of the thousands to die in the devastating Haiti earthquake.

Frederick Wooldridge, a British UN worker, had been based in the country as a political affairs and planning officer since 2007.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown has led the tributes to Mr Wooldridge saying he is hugely grateful for the work he did.

Kent firefighters rescue survivor

Meanwhile, Kent firefighters helping with the emergency response effort were involved in the rescue of an elderly man (pictured above) found after seven hours of tunnelling.

According to a Kent Fire and Rescue spokesman, the man was thrown out of his bed during last Tuesday night's quake and ended up under it. The bed appears to have protected him and enabled him to survive beneath the rubble in Port-au-Prince.

The spokesman added: "Once he was located under the building, it took the Kent team seven hours of tunnelling to reach him. After rehydration, the lucky survivor recovered well and was treated for minor injuries."

Steve Griffiths, assistant director of community safety for Kent Fire and Rescue Service, said: "It indicates the extent of the damage when we hear that it took the team seven hours of tunnelling to reach this man. We are all very proud of their determination and contribution to the humanitarian effort."

The Kent team is part of a 71-strong UK search and rescue operation.

Since arriving at the Caribbean island on Thursday, it has been concentrating efforts on collapsed schools, churches and hospitals. The team has been working during aftershocks and in temperatures of up to 90C.

Speaking on Saturday, the Kent team leader in Haiti said: "We are working in very difficult conditions, and in a great deal of heat and humidity.

"However, everyone in the team is well and we have a camp by the airport. We are determined to do all we can to rescue and support the people of Haiti who have suffered such a terrible disaster."

The Kent team has received government praise for the work they are doing.

Douglas Alexander, Secretary of State for International Development, said: "They are helping the people of Haiti at a time of dire need and their skills and experience are vital to the ongoing search for survivors in the rubble in Port-au-Prince. The people of Kent can be proud of their efforts."