Husband fears for evacuated nurse in Afghanistan

The husband of one of the New Zealand nurses who was forced to flee Afghanistan has spoken of his concern for her safety.

"I'd rather be over there with her just to know she was safe," said John Hetrick.

Wendy Hetrick and Julie Young were evacuated last week after riots broke out in protest against the reported desecration of the Koran in the United States military prison at Guantanamo Bay, in Cuba.

Mrs Hetrick, who had previously worked at Ashburton Hospital for 26 years, spoke to her husband just minutes before her evacuation to tell him she was okay.

"It was a pretty short space of time after the riots started and before she got evacuated - she didn't have time to pack her gear but I was able to talk to her for 30 seconds," Mr Hetrick said.

His wife and fellow Red Cross nurse Ms Young, of Tauranga, were taken to the Afghan capital, Kabul, for a couple of days but are now in Dubai.

Mrs Hetrick was based at the main public hospital in Jalalabad, where she was working in the operating theatre.

"It's more administrative than hands-on stuff and she's seen some pretty horrific stuff - mainly landmine injuries and gunshot wounds - but she seems to be enjoying her work," Mr Hetrick said.

His wife was in the third month of an eight-month stint in Afghanistan.

Speaking before her departure this year, Mrs Hetrick said she was looking forward to a change and was well aware of the risks.

"There's every chance I may not return - I might be killed or kidnapped. That's something that is always in the back of my mind."

Last week those words came back to haunt her after riots broke out in Jalalabad, near the border with Pakistan, at the compound where she has been staying.

- NZPA