Police warn: ‘It will take time to recover victims’

PC Kirsty Nelis was among those who died in the Clutha tragedy.

It emerged last night that a close family member was part of the Fire and Rescue team that attended the accident, unaware of who was involved. The shaken high-ranking officer was stood down and sent home.

Police Scotland last night confirmed that the body of 48-year-old Gary Arthur, from Paisley, had been recovered from the wrecked bar on the banks of the River Clyde.

A spokesman added: “Extensive efforts continue to recover the remaining bodies from the scene.

“Due to ongoing safety constraints this is likely to take some time.”

The Sunday Post has learned that Clutha boss Alan Crossan only missed the tragedy as he was recovering from a heart attack.

The shattered owner wasn’t behind the bar at the popular pub because he was recuperating at home.

But he raced to the scene within minutes of the alarm being raised. He told The Sunday Post: “I got a phone call from my staff just after the crash happened and I went straight down.

“The police and firefighters were incredible. They arrived at 10.30pm, just minutes after the helicopter crashed. I got there at about 10.45pm and what I saw was devastating.

“It’s just such a shock.”

Alan paid tribute to his staff and locals who rushed to the rescue.

“The staff have been amazing and very brave. I know they did their best to help people to safety.

“The people in Glasgow have just been so great. They’ve been so courageous and strong. My thoughts and prayers are with everyone who’s had to go through this. It’s just so devastating.”

The landlord said he was baffled as to how a helicopter could have plummeted into the roof of what is one of the city’s oldest pubs.

He added: “The roof is completely flat and isn’t load bearing. It’s only made of timber, so the helicopter just crashed straight through it.”

Meanwhile, the pub’s former owner, Ian Adie, told last night of his devastation at the tragedy.

Businessman Ian ran the Clutha for years before selling up. He said: “I just can’t take it in.

“I was doing some after-dinner speaking on Friday night when my phone started going crazy with messages and calls.

“It’s just unbelievable. I’ve got so many friends there and it’s just totally shocking.”

Ian, who now runs Glasgow-based corporate gifts and promotional materials outfit Business Incentives Group, said he struggled to come to terms with the unfolding tragedy.

He confided: “I was watching the pictures on TV and couldn’t believe what I was seeing. “The Clutha is an institution.

“The place is a wee gem. There was always a great atmosphere there with the Friday-night crowd.

“It’s a real Glasgow landmark, a fantastic place with fantastic people.

“You could never imagine something like this happening.

“I’m just shocked. It’ll be days before I can get any sense of perspective.”

Sunday Post columnist Gordon Smith was speaking to Ian just as the news broke. He told us: “Ian suddenly said, ‘You’ll never believe this. I’ve just had a text saying a helicopter’s crashed into the pub I owned’.

“He was really upset. It’s a terrible tragedy.”