Mum's plea: 'Please get my son home safe from Afghanistan'

Marilyn Farthing, whose son Paul, known as Pen, founded an animal sanctuary in Kabul, has pleaded with the UK Government to help her son and his staff leave the war-torn country.

Mr Farthing, 52, from Dovercourt, served with the Royal Marines as a commando in the Afghan province of Helmand in the mid-2000s.

He set up the charity Nowzad 15 years ago, helping to rescue stray dogs and abused donkeys while raising awareness for animal welfare.

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Mrs Farthing has now said she feels the West has abandoned the people of Afghanistan.

“I’m terrified for my son, for his wife, and for the manager of Nowzad who is 36 weeks pregnant,” she said.

Stranded - Paul ‘Pen’ Farthing set up an animal rescue charity in Afghanistan 15 years ago

“The Government has said the airport in Kabul is secure and Pen’s wife and the manager managed to get booked on to a flight but were nearly squashed to death at the gates; the soldiers wouldn’t let them.

“They are safe now but they had to get back across the city in the dark which is so frightening considering they are two women on their own.

“Pen really thought they’d be able to get out yesterday but all hell broke loose and they couldn’t get home. He thought they were going to be killed.

“I did manage to speak to Pen for a few minutes and he gave me hope, he said he was OK.

“When I first heard the Taliban were taking control I was frantic, I felt so helpless.

“They’ve pretty much moved in next door to where Pen is based which is so dangerous, especially as he’s been in the Marines.

“What they could do is always in the back of my mind.

“Some of the charity’s vets were stopped by the Taliban the other morning and were questioned before being allowed to continue.

“I’m really terrified and trying to keep busy so I don’t think about it. When it’s your child out there you want to go out and help but you just can’t.”

She added: “Pen said he feels ashamed to be a British citizen right now. They all fought to help the people there and now they’ve given up on them so quickly.

“I feel we’ve really let the people down. They’re so frightened of what’s to come.”