30 Nov 2013

Glasgow helicopter crash: ‘it was very quiet’

Labour MP Jim Murphy, one of the first on the scene at the site of a helicopter crash in Glasgow, describes the “instinctive reponse” from the public to “get stuck in” and help people.

Firefighters have been working through the night to help people trapped inside the Clutha pub on the banks of the Clyde. Thirty-two people have been taken to hospital.

Mr Murphy said: “When I arrived at the pub, a few moments after the helicopter crashed, people were pouring out of the pub and dust seemed to be coming up from nowhere, out the roof, out the door, up from the gtound almost.

“But there was no panic, it was very quiet, there were some shouts from people trying to help, but there was no panic.

“The emergency services hadn’t yet got here and there was just an instinctive response from everyone who was here to get stuck in and do the right thing.”

Mr Murphy said that “most of the men” at the pub formed a human chain to get people to safety.

Deputy Chief Constable Rose Fitzpatrick has said that a full investigation is now underway into how the helicopter crashed into the pub. There were three people on board when it crashed, two police officers and a civilian pilot.