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Glasgow helicopter crash: Funeral of Joe Cusker due to be held Glasgow helicopter crash: Funeral held for Joe Cusker
(about 11 hours later)
The funeral of the tenth victim of the Glasgow helicopter crash is due to take place in South Lanarkshire. More than 200 mourners gathered for the funeral of the 10th victim of the Clutha bar helicopter crash.
Joe Cusker, 59, from Cambuslang, died in hospital almost two weeks after the Police Scotland helicopter crashed into the Clutha Bar. Joe Cusker, 59, was inside the Glasgow pub when a police helicopter crashed through the roof on 29 November.
His funeral will be held at South Lanarkshire Crematorium, Blantyre, at 16:00. Mr Cusker, of Cambuslang, South Lanarkshire, was pulled from the wreckage alive but died in hospital from his injuries 13 days later.
His family said his death had left a huge gap in their lives and thanked the medical staff who looked after him. Mourners attended his funeral service on Wednesday at South Lanarkshire Crematorium in Blantyre.
In a statement they said: "When the accident happened, our family thought we were one of the lucky ones. Police outriders accompanied the hearse as it arrived at the crematorium for the humanist service.
"Losing Joe 13 days later has left a huge gap in our lives which, at this moment, we can't imagine beginning to fill. The coffin was draped with a red socialist flag and a single white rose had been placed on top.
"We are now left with the task of making sure his grandchildren grow up knowing who their 'Papa Joe' was, even if some of them are too young to remember him." 'Papa Joe'
'Glaswegian at heart' Scottish Community Safety Minister Roseanna Cunningham attended the service along with senior police officers, Glasgow City Council leader Gordon Matheson and Lord Provost Sadie Docherty.
They added: "The family would like to express our gratitude for all the support and good wishes we have received at this difficult time. Mr Cusker's family have described their devastation over his death.
"We would also like to thank the emergency services, who gave Joe a fighting chance by removing him from the Clutha at risk to their own safety. In a statement released before the funeral, they said: "When the accident happened, our family thought we were one of the lucky ones. Losing Joe 13 days later has left a huge gap in our lives which, at this moment, we can't imagine beginning to fill.
"We also want to state that the care, compassion and support the staff in the Intensive Care Unit at the Glasgow Royal Infirmary gave us have earned our eternal gratitude and admiration. "We are now left with the task of making sure his grandchildren grow up knowing who their 'Papa Joe' was, even if some of them are too young to remember him.
"Although Joe had lived in South Lanarkshire for many years, he was a Glaswegian at heart, and he would have been proud at the courage and generosity that the people of Glasgow have shown in the midst of this tragedy." "The family would like to express their gratitude for all the support and good wishes they have received at this difficult time.
Mr Cusker was a customer in The Clutha when the helicopter crashed on to its roof on 29 November. "We would also like to thank the emergency services, who gave Joe a fighting chance by removing him from the Clutha at risk to their own safety."
The six others who died inside the bar were Robert Jenkins, 61, Mark O'Prey, 44, Colin Gibson, 33, John McGarrigle, 57, Samuel McGhee, 56, and Gary Arthur, 48. 'Eternal gratitude'
The three helicopter crew who died in the tragedy were pilot David Traill, 51, and PCs Kirsty Nelis, 36, and Tony Collins, 43. Mr Cusker's family said the "care, compassion and support" of staff in the intensive care unit at Glasgow Royal Infirmary had earned their "eternal gratitude and admiration".
More than 30 people were taken to hospitals across Glasgow after the crash. The statement said: "Although Joe had lived in South Lanarkshire for many years, he was a Glaswegian at heart, and he would have been proud at the courage and generosity that the people of Glasgow have shown in the midst of this tragedy."
Funerals took place last week for the three helicopter crew who were killed - Pilot David Traill, 51, Pc Tony Collins, 43, and Pc Kirsty Nelis, 36 - and the six other pub customers who lost their lives.
They were John McGarrigle, 57, Mark O'Prey, 44, Gary Arthur, 48, Colin Gibson, 33, Robert Jenkins, 61, and Samuel McGhee, 56.
It has not yet been established what caused the helicopter to fall from the sky, although investigators say initial evidence rules out engine or gearbox failure.