Couple feel full force of nature

Collecting donation for the typhoon victims.

AN Oldham couple had a lucky escape after being caught up in Typhoon Haiyan in the disaster-hit Philippines.

Philip and Susan Sykes survived the largest typhoon to hit land in recorded history as it swept across the country killing thousands.

Terrifying 235mph winds affected an astonishing 11 million residents across the country where the Oldham couple set up a small island resort in 2009.

Mr Sykes said: “The scale of Haiyan was and still is hard to comprehend. For ourselves we were blessed that the typhoon passed a few degrees north of our home island Camiguin so people suffered only minor wind damage and heavy rainfall.”

Haiyan is by no means the first force of nature to threaten the Sykes’ business — they were still recovering from October’s Bohol earthquake when it struck.

The former social services workers have also had to contend with the Sendong floods in 2011 and Typhoon Pablo in 2012.

Extreme weather conditions, however, have not been enough to tempt Mr Sykes back home to Oldham.

He said: “I still miss my chippy teas and pilgrimages to Boundary Park but even though we’re living through some interesting times I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
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