-
Kiwi relatives of those who perished in the Air NZ crash off Perpignan meet with the authorities who helped in the rescue effort - Source: ONE News -
Watch Video
-
Related
Kiwi relatives of those who perished in the Air New Zealand A320 crash off the coast of Perpignan in France have met with the local authorities who helped in the rescue effort.
The meeting was held to thank those who did their part in finding the bodies of their loved ones and also to commemorate a year since the disaster.
Three countries were affected when the plane plunged into the ocean before it could even send a mayday signal.
Air New Zealand representatives were also present at the meeting.
Donna Marsh, the sister of Noel Marsh who was one of five Kiwis aboard the plane when it crashed, is in France for the occasion.
She has learnt the French language for the past year so she could thank those who helped bring home her brother's body, in their local language.
"They looked after my little brother and enabled him to come home. We've told them exactly what it meant for us for all their hard work and determination," says Marsh.
Seven men perished in the disaster - five from New Zealand and two from Germany.
Their wives were each given a iron medallion commemorating the crash during the ceremony. Jeremy Cook's wife Sally says it's something she will treasure and the medallion will go through her family for generations.
"It's wonderful that people have remembered this event," says Cook.
In choppy seas and limited visibility the French navy, divers and coastguard spent days out at the crash site searching for clues and recovering the bodies of the men who perished.
Norm Thompson from Air New Zealand thanked their efforts.
"Thank you for braving the atrocious weather conditions, for searching for our men...thank you for leaving nothing to chance in the mission recovery," Thompson said.
The coastguard were the first to arrive and had never dealt with an emergency of the size that was in front of them on that fateful day - recovering bodies from a plane crash in the ocean.
Spokesman Robert Chesaux helped in the effort and says it was a difficult experience.
"It was really difficult for some crew for this experience; it's why we went to the crash site and lay flowers," Chesaux said in French.
The crash brought together families from three countries and while it may not be an experience that anyone wanted to share, there was no doubt a special bond had been formed after the meeting.
Tomorrow, the families will attend the unveiling of a memorial - a huge rock that looks out at the crash site.
They will then be given the opportunity to go to the site in the water where the plane crashed to pay their respects.
