Blackburn Rovers New Zealand international Ryan Nelsen, who also skippers his national side, has been speaking of his frustration following Tuesday's tremor in Christchurch. The Rovers defender was born and brought up in the city and most of his family still live there.
He also revealed that his sister gave birth to a baby boy just half an hour after the lunchtime blast, which left scores more buried under rubble.
Nelsen said: "It is just a horrible feeling that you cannot do anything.
"I have been away from Christchurch for 14 or 15 years now and this is the first time I have really wished myself home. It is horrible."
In an interview with Newstalk ZB radio in Auckland, he added: "Christchurch is like a little village - everybody knows each other and it is a fantastic place.
"The story that will come out is that there will be some real heroes."
Nelsen said Rovers bosses had been 'fantastic' since the earthquake, telling him to take time off if he needed it.
He also revealed that he found common ground with striker Jason Roberts, who was in the UK when a huge hurricane ravaged his native Grenada in 2004.
As a mark of respect to those killed in Tuesday's quake, Nelsen will wear a black armband during Rovers' away match at Aston Villa on Saturday.
