THE pilot son of a Helmshore woman is helping spearhead the evacuation of the tidal wave-ravaged Maldives.

MyTravel airman Martin Wiggan is helping rescue passengers from the islands to Bahrain.

It is part of a huge operation by East Lancashire-based travel firm MyTravel which is working flat out to evacuate stranded tourists from tsunami-devastated regions of Asia.

Mr Wiggan, 44, actually flew over the tidal waves on Sunday on a journey from Borneo to Abu Dhabi but had no idea what was happening 30,000ft below him.

For his mum Mavis, of Osborne Way, Helmshore, the Boxing Day news meant a frantic wait while her daughter tried to make contact with Martin.

She said: "My other son lives in Oman and he told us the news. We panicked when we first heard. We put Sky News on and saw what was happening and didn't know where exactly Martin was or if he was all right.

"Luckily my daughter managed to get hold of him. He had been flying over it. It wasn't until he landed that he knew what had happened."

Martin, who lives in Wilmslow, had been taking passengers on their way to Mecca for Hajj but now he is one of the pilots helping to take survivors of the tsunami disaster from the Maldives to Bahrain.

MyTravel, founded by Burnley businessman David Crossland in 1972, had already brought 103 passengers back to Manchester. The firm is providing clothing, free taxis home and counselling for many holidaymakers who returned with just the clothes they stood up in.

Mavis said the work was very emotional as Martin had close friends in Indonesia - the worst hit of the Asian countries.

She said: "He had been out in Borneo for two weeks but they were asked to stop doing that and help rescue people from the Maldives.

"They are taking them to Bahrain where other aircraft are awaiting them.

"It's very emotional. He knows one or two people closely in Indonesia but luckily where they are has not been affected. His whole life is flying - it's good that he's able to help by doing something he loves."