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PoliceNewsThe Voice of PoliceLucky escape for two Kiwi officerscaught in 8.8 Chile earthquakeBy Deb Stringer, Communications AssistantWhen two Wellington police officers left for Chile to complete a routine deportation, little did they knowthat within a few days a deadly earthquake measuring 8.8 on the Richter scale would rock the country,leaving several hundred people dead, tens of thousands homeless and widespread devastation.Sergeant Matt Boyce and DetectiveAndrew Compton had completedtheir job of deporting a man whohad wrapped a radio cord around hisarresting officer’s neck. They thendecided to do a bit of sightseeing.“We had decided to head west of thecapital, Santiago, so were staying at aguesthouse the night before we werescheduled to leave,” Mr Boyce said.By 3.30pm that day, the plan to returnhome was thrown into disarray whenthe earthquake hit.Quick progression“It started out like a little tremor, butthen it got progressively worse. It wasreally freaky,” Mr Boyce said.Chunks of concrete plaster startedpeeling off the ceiling and began peltingthe two officers and it was about thattime Mr Boyce decided the best courseof action was to flip the base of his bedover for cover.Mr Compton decided to dive under thedoorway for protection.“Our attempts for cover weren’t metwith very much success though asthe earthquake shook us both aroundviolently.”Lending a handDespite this, both men managed to comeout of the ordeal relatively unscathed.After the earthquake was over, MrBoyce remembers scrambling aroundthe room for a small Penlite torch,which was inscribed with the message“stick with your friends”.The torch was the only light in theguesthouse for the first few hoursfollowing the quake, so the twoofficers put it to good use by helpingthe guesthouse owner back into awheelchair and gathering blankets forother guests.“There were quite a few aftershocks andat the time we weren’t sure if anotherquake was going to hit, so we just did allwe could, until we were told otherwise.• The ‘shell’ of this three-storey apartment building is all that remains just a few metres downthe block from where the officers had been staying in Valparaiso.• More damaged buildings near the officers’ accomodation in Valparaiso.60April 2010