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| Glasgow unites to support helicopter crash families | Glasgow unites to support helicopter crash families |
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| Saverio Petri, one of the owners of the Clutha Vaults in Glasgow, wasn't meant to be in the pub on Friday. But a band he liked were playing that night and, knowing the pub would be busy, he decided to help out. Which is why he was behind the bar when a police helicopter plunged into the roof of the building, its rotor blade missing him by less than half a metre. "I was pouring a drink for somebody when it happened," he told the Guardian. "It was like an explosion. I saw a flash and then the building plunged into darkness. Then everything came down. There was dust everywhere and I was being hit by debris that knocked me to the floor behind the bar." | Saverio Petri, one of the owners of the Clutha Vaults in Glasgow, wasn't meant to be in the pub on Friday. But a band he liked were playing that night and, knowing the pub would be busy, he decided to help out. Which is why he was behind the bar when a police helicopter plunged into the roof of the building, its rotor blade missing him by less than half a metre. "I was pouring a drink for somebody when it happened," he told the Guardian. "It was like an explosion. I saw a flash and then the building plunged into darkness. Then everything came down. There was dust everywhere and I was being hit by debris that knocked me to the floor behind the bar." |
| That bar, part of the pub that has been standing on the banks of the Clyde for two centuries, very probably saved his life. It was only after Petri had found his way out of the building, helping others along the way, that he was told that a police helicopter had crashed through the roof of his pub. "I realised that the flash I saw was in fact the aluminium and orange tip of the rotor blade of the helicopter that must have been around 30-40cm in front of me," he said. | That bar, part of the pub that has been standing on the banks of the Clyde for two centuries, very probably saved his life. It was only after Petri had found his way out of the building, helping others along the way, that he was told that a police helicopter had crashed through the roof of his pub. "I realised that the flash I saw was in fact the aluminium and orange tip of the rotor blade of the helicopter that must have been around 30-40cm in front of me," he said. |
| "Unfortunately, it was that area, just in front of me, where there were fatalities. I've been exceptionally lucky." | "Unfortunately, it was that area, just in front of me, where there were fatalities. I've been exceptionally lucky." |
| The Scottish fire brigade and accident investigators began the painstaking process of removing the wreckage of the helicopter on Sunday, and police said it was possible that more bodies would be discovered than the eight already confirmed to have died in the accident. Three of the victims were named officially on Sunday: constables Kirsty Nelis, 36, and Tony Collins, 41 who were in the helicopter with pilot Captain David Traill. The other known fatality, named on Saturday, was Gary Arthur, 48, from the Paisley area. | The Scottish fire brigade and accident investigators began the painstaking process of removing the wreckage of the helicopter on Sunday, and police said it was possible that more bodies would be discovered than the eight already confirmed to have died in the accident. Three of the victims were named officially on Sunday: constables Kirsty Nelis, 36, and Tony Collins, 41 who were in the helicopter with pilot Captain David Traill. The other known fatality, named on Saturday, was Gary Arthur, 48, from the Paisley area. |
| A fifth victim is thought to be John McGarrigle, 59, whose son, also John, 38, was at the scene on Saturday and said he was convinced his father had been sitting directly under the helicopter when it came down. However, no official confirmation of his identity has been given. Twelve people remain in hospital and three are in intensive care. | A fifth victim is thought to be John McGarrigle, 59, whose son, also John, 38, was at the scene on Saturday and said he was convinced his father had been sitting directly under the helicopter when it came down. However, no official confirmation of his identity has been given. Twelve people remain in hospital and three are in intensive care. |
| Earlier on Sunday, people gathered to pay their respects to victims of the disaster in a memorial service at the city's cathedral. Representatives of Scotland's political parties, the emergency services and the NHS joined worshippers to pray for those killed and injured. | Earlier on Sunday, people gathered to pay their respects to victims of the disaster in a memorial service at the city's cathedral. Representatives of Scotland's political parties, the emergency services and the NHS joined worshippers to pray for those killed and injured. |
| Petri, like the city of Glasgow as a whole, is still clearly in shock. He is overwhelmed by the flood of support that has engulfed the Clutha as the city united following the tragedy. A rapidly organised benefit weekend of gigs at many venues in the city – to raise money for those affected – has already attracted more than 25 bands. A local taxi firm Glasgow Taxis was showered with praise after offering free transport for family members visiting the injured in hospital. Breweries have phoned offering practical and financial support to the Clutha, and in streets nearby people have taped packets of biscuits to lamp-posts for the emergency services, who have been bombarded with offers of tea and messages of support. | Petri, like the city of Glasgow as a whole, is still clearly in shock. He is overwhelmed by the flood of support that has engulfed the Clutha as the city united following the tragedy. A rapidly organised benefit weekend of gigs at many venues in the city – to raise money for those affected – has already attracted more than 25 bands. A local taxi firm Glasgow Taxis was showered with praise after offering free transport for family members visiting the injured in hospital. Breweries have phoned offering practical and financial support to the Clutha, and in streets nearby people have taped packets of biscuits to lamp-posts for the emergency services, who have been bombarded with offers of tea and messages of support. |
| "Solidarity – that's the only word that sums it up," said Petri. "We like to refer to the Clutha family, and it has certainly shown it is a family in the last few days. People's response and support has just been bewildering." | "Solidarity – that's the only word that sums it up," said Petri. "We like to refer to the Clutha family, and it has certainly shown it is a family in the last few days. People's response and support has just been bewildering." |
| Petri doesn't really know how he feels: it's too early for emotions to have sunk in and he is still in shock. "I've no confirmation of this, but I know there are people still in the pub," he said. "At the moment what I've been told is it's still a rescue operation. My concern is just helping the emergency services and doing as much as I can for victims and their families." | Petri doesn't really know how he feels: it's too early for emotions to have sunk in and he is still in shock. "I've no confirmation of this, but I know there are people still in the pub," he said. "At the moment what I've been told is it's still a rescue operation. My concern is just helping the emergency services and doing as much as I can for victims and their families." |
| Describing the moment after the police Eurocopter struck the roof of the Clutha, Petri said that even in the minutes following the disaster, people were remarkably calm, calling out to each other to make sure they were safe. | Describing the moment after the police Eurocopter struck the roof of the Clutha, Petri said that even in the minutes following the disaster, people were remarkably calm, calling out to each other to make sure they were safe. |
| "It was pitch dark. The only thing you could see were the lights for the emergency exits," he said. "I was just calling for people to make their way towards the door and the calmness was incredible … I could see the walking wounded, that people were injured. I could hear there were people trapped under the rubble ... people were calling, saying 'I'm here'." | "It was pitch dark. The only thing you could see were the lights for the emergency exits," he said. "I was just calling for people to make their way towards the door and the calmness was incredible … I could see the walking wounded, that people were injured. I could hear there were people trapped under the rubble ... people were calling, saying 'I'm here'." |
| He got down on his hands and knees, checking for survivors along the perimeter of the pub. "I was concerned that people had been injured and wanted to make sure," he said. "I don't want to sound flippant, but I have a 350-page health and safety manual in the pub, and it doesn't give me a contingency for the roof being hit by a helicopter." | He got down on his hands and knees, checking for survivors along the perimeter of the pub. "I was concerned that people had been injured and wanted to make sure," he said. "I don't want to sound flippant, but I have a 350-page health and safety manual in the pub, and it doesn't give me a contingency for the roof being hit by a helicopter." |
| People spilled out into the night air, those who were able forming a human conveyor belt to help others to get out to safety. "People had inhaled a lot of dust, some people were struggling to breathe, lying on their sides," he said. "People weren't running away – they were running to help." | |
| The Clutha – known as a hotbed of leftwing thought and trade union activism – has a history of survival. Due to mark its 200th anniversary next year, the single-storey building is the only remains of a tenement block that burned down in the 60s. Billy Connolly, Gerry Rafferty and Frankie Miller and hundreds of other bands have performed there. With live music seven nights a week it is part of the musical and cultural fabric of the city. The idea that it might not open its doors again is unthinkable, said Petri. | The Clutha – known as a hotbed of leftwing thought and trade union activism – has a history of survival. Due to mark its 200th anniversary next year, the single-storey building is the only remains of a tenement block that burned down in the 60s. Billy Connolly, Gerry Rafferty and Frankie Miller and hundreds of other bands have performed there. With live music seven nights a week it is part of the musical and cultural fabric of the city. The idea that it might not open its doors again is unthinkable, said Petri. |
| "It is not the end of the Clutha, absolutely not," he said. "Once this is all finished, once we have cleared up, the pub will be back. It will not be there as a monument but it will be a memorial. The support we have received means we have to keep on going." | "It is not the end of the Clutha, absolutely not," he said. "Once this is all finished, once we have cleared up, the pub will be back. It will not be there as a monument but it will be a memorial. The support we have received means we have to keep on going." |
| The victims | |
| Gary Arthur, 48, from Paisley in Renfrewshire is the only casualty on the ground identified by Police Scotland so far. His daughter, Chloe Arthur, an under-19s footballer for Celtic and Scotland, paid tribute to him on Twitter: "RIP dad. you'll always mean the world to me, I promise to do you proud, I love you with all my heart." | |
| Celtic Women's Manager, David Haley, said: "This is devastating for Chloe and her family. It is a tragedy that Chloe's father was one of eight innocent victims in this terrible accident – he was regularly seen at Celtic matches, watching his daughter. Chloe and her family have the full support of everyone at Celtic and across the women's game at this very sad time." | |
| David Traill, 51, from Stenhousmuir was the aircraft's civilian pilot. A former RAF flight lieutenant with over 20 years' helicopter flying experience, his military career included deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. He was a Chinook flight instructor before leaving the RAF to become a civilian pilot, joining Bond Air Services. He had worked with Strathclyde police and its successor, Police Scotland, for four years. A post on the Facebook page of Traill's cousin Heather Lawson read: "RIP David Traill my lovely big cousin away far to soon xxx" | |
| PC Kirsty Nelis 36, received a bravery award in 2003 for overpowering a man armed with a hammer while trapped in a lift with him. Many of Nelis's friends on Facebook changed their profile pictures to a black square cut across by a thin blue line in remembrance. One, Andrina Romano, said: "For my beautiful friend Kirsty and all others involved. You will never be forgotten and I will miss you every day. Rip" | |
| PC Tony Collins, 41, was the third occupant of the Eurocopter EC-135 killed in the crash, was a member of the Police Scotland operational support division air support unit. At a press conference, Chief Constable Sir Stephen House said he had also previously received a commendation for bravery. | |
| John McGarrigle, 59, has not officially been confirmed as among the dead but his son John Jr told reporters that the helicopter had come down on to his father's usual spot by the bar. His father had been sitting there with his friend Sammy. A friend, named by him only as Fiona, had gone to the toilet just before the crash. When she came back into the bar, McGarrigle senior, a well-known poet, who had written extensively about working-class life in Glasgow, had disappeared. His son said: "As soon as I heard what had happened I just knew that my dad was dead. He was a brilliant guy. He's a writer, he raised three kids on his own, he's a grandfather too." | |
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