Sorry for my Sudan exit from your big day.. I had to save Brits from a warzone

Fraser had to leave friend's wedding early for mercy mission to Khartoum

- SALLY HIND

A SCOTS diplomat has told how he was scrambled to join the UK Government's evacuation of Brits fleeing war-torn Sudan while at his best friend's wedding.

Glasgow-born Fraser McDougall was part of the UK's successful operation to rescue more than 2450 people - the longest and largest evacuation by any Western nation.

The 28-year-old, who works for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, was sent to Sudanese capital Khartoum with the UK Rapid Deployment Team to help Brits fleeing violence that has killed more than 800 people.

Fraser got the call just minutes before he gave his best man's speech at Calum Clark's wedding to Siobhan Chien at Harelaw Farm, in Fenwick, Ayrshire.

He said: "I wasn't actually on call but, as it was such a big crisis, they needed all hands on deck, so I was asked if I could deploy to Sudan. So it wasn't just my best pal who said 'I do' on the day. The call came about 10 minutes before I was due to give my speech.