Jim Armitage, aged 31, told his father, Paul, who lives in Gleadless Townend, that "everybody panicked" as they tried to escape the shaking building in the Sichuan provincial capital of Chengdu.

"Jim is a very laid-back person but I think he was petrified," said Paul, aged 55.

"He told me there was masonry and debris falling everywhere and everyone was trying to get out. He thought he was a goner. It was horrendous."

Jim, who teaches English, escaped unscathed, but the walls of his fourth floor apartment were cracked by the quake.

His wife, Belinda, aged 28, was in Beijing with their two-month-old baby, Linda Jean, when the earthquake struck.

"Belinda is safe with her family and was not affected," said Paul. "New mothers in China are not allowed to do anything for the first few months so we know she is being well looked after."

Sheffield Wednesday fan Jim, who gets up in the middle of the night to listen to matches on the radio, arrived in China five years ago.

His father heard about the disaster on the radio, but it wasn't until later that he realised the epicentre was just 57 miles from where Jim is based.

"I was terrified when I realised. I was trying to call Jim but I couldn't get through," said Paul, who lives with his wife Teresa and their two younger sons.

"I sent an email and to my delight he responded straight away to say he was OK. He told me he felt 313 aftershocks but he is heading back to work today like everyone else in China - they are a tough lot."

He eventually spoke to Jim on Tuesday night. "I was so relieved when his emails said he was OK but to hear his voice reassured me more.

"It is awful what has happened but I can't tell you how happy I am that Jim and his family are OK."

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