Two Royal Navy sailors from Grenada have sent vital supplies home to their countrymen caught up in the devastation left by Hurricane Beryl.

Chief Petty Officer Damian James and logistician Able Seaman Todd Dharangit from survey ship HMS Scott watched on in horror from the UK – as many Commonwealth personnel did – as the storm wreaked havoc throughout the Caribbean region.

Damian and Todd, who are two of 30 Grenadians serving in the RN, both lived through the destruction of Hurricane Ivan in 2004 and knew their friends and family needed their help.

The duo leapt into action, adding £600 collected from their fellow sailors on Scott to their personal contribution, to buy tinned and long-life food, cleaning supplies and nappies.

These items, along with donations of clothing and food, are now on their way to the National Disaster Management Agency on the main island of Grenada, which suffered severe damage, while the smaller islands of Carriacou and Petite Martinique suffered “complete devastation” according to Grenada’s Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell.

“We decided to support the hurricane relief drive based on the fact that we are both native born Grenadians who lived through and experienced Hurricane Ivan back in 2004,” said Damian.

“As the saying goes ‘experience will always be our greatest teacher’ and the memories of 2004 are enough to know that your fellow countrymen, family and friends need all the help they can get post-Hurricane Beryl.

“The guilt of not physically being present back home to support our love ones is a daunting feeling in itself, so we are doing whatever we can do remotely to help cushion that blow slightly.

“Rebuilding after a hurricane usually takes years and we’ll continue doing as much as we can for our beloved country as the journey continues. They are all forever in our hearts, forever in our prayers.”

Hurricane Beryl was a deadly Category 5 storm, the earliest-forming on record, which swept through the Caribbean, Mexico, Belize and the United States’ Gulf Coast.

It made landfall in Carriacou Islands with winds up to 150mph. HMS Trent – the Royal Navy’s patrol ship in the Caribbean, was deployed the Cayman Islands to offer UK support to communities affected by flooding and storm damage.

Damian and Todd’s ship has recently returned home to Plymouth after extensive surveying operations in the Atlantic.