Glasgow terror hero John Smeaton’s new life in the Big Apple
Airport hero John Smeaton has revealed he is living the dream in the home of New York’s most notorious criminals. The former baggage handler who became legendary for “setting aboot” a would-be terrorist has emigrated to the US with American wife Christy and now lives in the Bronx.
The couple, who married in a fairytale castle wedding in July 2009, quietly made the move last year.
“I have my green card and I’m now an official resident of the USA,” the 36-year-old said.
“But I don’t think I’ll ever go for citizenship I’m proud to be Scottish and British.
“I’ve been here 10 months and haven’t been home yet. I miss it.
“We’re living the same life as we did in Glasgow but everything around me is completely different.
“The biggest is the health care. The NHS was the greatest thing ever done for the British people.
“We pay $500 per month for health care, which doesn’t include excess.
“I needed treatment for a spider bite on my elbow and it cost me $1,000, and that’s with insurance.”
One other thing that’s changed for John is his career, at least temporarily.
Before he moved to the States he’d landed his dream job of working on a fish farm in Loch Awe, but finding similar work across the Atlantic is proving tough.
“I want to farm fish here, that’s what I love and what I’m trained to do,” he continued.
“I’ve been visiting farms here, trying to make contacts. I’ve even offered to do voluntary work in the summer.
“Just now I’m working with my wife’s cousin’s carpet cleaning business.
“We have a contract across four States to clean all of the LA Fitness gyms after hours.
“I’m happy as long as I’m doing an honest day’s work.”
But the unsociable working hours are making it tough for John to follow the fortunes of his beloved Rangers. The late finishes and early starts mean he sometimes can’t make it into Manhattan to the local bluenose bar, but he gets regular updates from friends and family.
The unlikely hero found fame after helping to subdue Bilal Abdullah and Kafeel Ahmed while on a cigarette break at the airport nearly six years ago.
His television interviews, when he warned any other would-be terrorists of their fate should they think about attacking his city, struck a chord with the public and led to worldwide fame and a gallantry medal from the Queen.
“Those few crazy years after the airport attack taught me an awful lot,” he added.
“I don’t know where life is going to take me, but I’m happy just to play the cards I’m dealt.”
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