THE wife of a Royal Marine veteran stranded in Afghanistan has safely fled the country after a daring evacuation effort.

Paul ‘Pen’ Farthing, from Dovercourt, met wife, Kaisa, in the war-torn country but has had to bid her a heart-breaking farewell as fears grow for women in the country after the Taliban’s vow to impose Sharia law.

Mr Farthing, 52, served with the Royal Marines as a commando in the Afghan province of Helmand in the mid-2000s.

He set up the charity Nowzad 15 years ago to raise awareness for animal welfare while helping to rescue stray dogs and abused donkeys.

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The ex-Marine shared an image on Thursday evening of an evacuation flight fleeing Kabul airport carrying his wife.

Despite western nations pledging to take thousands of terrified Afghans out the country, the mercy flight was near-on empty, which Mr Farthing described as “scandalous”.

He tweeted: “Kaisa is on her way home! BUT this aircraft is empty... scandalous as thousands wait outside #Kabul airport being crushed as they cannot get in.

“Sadly people will be left behind when this mission is over as we CANNOT get it right,” adding a heartbroken emoji.

The British expat’s mother, Marilyn, said the news Kaisa was on her way home was a “huge relief”.

“Hearing this was brilliant, I was so relieved,” she said. “It’s a big weight off our shoulders and I’m so happy to know she is in safe hands.

“As of now all I know is she is on her way to Norway. The other day she was nearly squashed at the airport gates so it’s such a relief to know she’s passed this.

“All hell broke loose that day; Pen thought they were going to be killed.”

Mr Farthing has also been trying to evacuate the Nowzad staff as well as the animals he has dedicated 15 years of his life to.

His mother added: “I haven’t been able to speak much with Pen but he tells me the Government is supposedly processing the paperwork to evacuate the staff, which is his priority.

“He wants to get the animals to the airport too but moving three trucks full of animals through Taliban-controlled roads is near-on impossible.

“I really don’t know what he will do if he can’t get them there. It doesn’t bear thinking about.

“I’m sure he wouldn’t just walk away and leave them. To dedicate his life to the animals and then have to leave would be heartbreaking.

“The charity has made such a difference out there; people are now desperately trying to help.

“His brother and I are so grateful for all the support that has poured in for him, from here and from across the world.

“These supporters have pushed the Government to help us and we can’t thank them enough.”