Survivors of the Glasgow helicopter crash tell their amazing stories

“We’d have died if we hadn’t moved seats.”

Survivors last night told of their miraculous escape from the scene of the tragedy and how they helped ferry others to safety as rubble and dust engulfed them.

More than 100 people inside The Clutha feared for their lives as the pub roof caved in on them.

As emergency services arrived on the scene they found a barmaid collapsed on the pavement opposite, moments after fleeing for her life.

“I was in the beer garden when it happened but there are people trapped inside and God knows what’s happened to them,” she sobbed.

“I’m alive but I’m terrified about what’s happened to the staff.”

Another barmaid revealed her colleagues, Amanda, Seve and Annemarie had been pulled out of the wreckage within an hour of the helicopter destroying the building.

By 2am, stories started to emerge of people killed in the tragedy.

A member of staff at Glasgow Royal Infirmary revealed a victim died shortly after arriving at the hospital.

“He just didn’t make it though I’m sure the paramedics did everything possible to save him,” he said.

Those who did make it out were shocked when they got to grips with what had happened.

Kenny Hamilton was pulled to safety from the rubble and debris before rescuing others trapped inside with help from his friend Sharon Hart and others.

He said he injured his ribs in the incident and was taken to hospital but was home later the same night.

He posted on Facebook: “I’m feeling very lucky as I ended up underneath the collapsed bar.

“Pulled out by two guys and with those two guys and another couple, we lifted the bar up to pull out another underneath who Sharon attended to.

“Managed to get another guy out from similar position. I know I’m more fortunate than some others.”

William Byrne, 45, was also in the bar when the helicopter crashed. He escaped unscathed and returned to the scene the next day to discuss his ordeal.

He said: “There was a huge bang and there was a couple of seconds after it when it was still, really quiet, and then the other side of the pub, the roof, the gantry all collapsed in on itself. It was unbelievable.

“My brother and I lifted the gantry, it was lying on top of one of the chaps, so we were lifting that up and trying to pull him out, and I believe people were getting pulled out behind me.

“There was another man who was lying underneath that chap. He got passed out, but seemed more injured than the first guy.”

Mr Byrne said it was “difficult” to go back to the scene but praised the people of Glasgow for how they dealt with it.

He said: “We should be very proud of the people that helped, and the emergency services. It’s the human thing to do, the right thing to do.”

Another reveller, Alleena Coupe, added: “We were all shouting to the band to stop playing as something had happened.

“I heard this ‘whoosh’ sound, then this cloud of dust came down and within five seconds nobody could see anything. We saw wood from the ceiling come down after the helicopter hit.

“We’d been sitting where the ceiling came down but had moved to the other end of the pub. It’s a real Sliding Doors moment as we could have died had we not moved to different seats.”

Mrs Coupe explained how she helped rescue people in the aftermath.

She said: “I carry a torch with me wherever I go and had it on me. I switched it on and was leading people out of the pub.

“My husband who was with me said he couldn’t see anything so he just followed the light from my torch out.

“The dust was choking, it burned our throats. One of the paramedics who attended was shocked at what he saw when he arrived. People were running about and panicking, while everyone was trying to help get anyone else out.

“One woman was determined to go back in the pub, she was shouting that her husband was still inside. My husband had to physically move her as it wasn’t safe and she was fighting all the way.

“It was terrifying.”

Lauren Primrose’s mum and auntie were also among those pulled out of the Clutha. They were taken by ambulance to The Victoria Infirmary. Lauren only discovered they had been in the pub after her cousin called her. She revealed her relief at learning they had both survived.

She posted on Facebook: “Nothing better than hearing my mum’s voice there. Just spoke to her on the phone. She sounded really tired and sore but she is very, very lucky.

“There is defo someone up there looking over her. Thanks so much for all the nice messages regarding my mum and auntie was let out last night. Was kept in with head injury but is getting out now.

“So much respect for all the services working at the scene all night to help people and all the nurses and doctors at the hospitals.

“And the pilot jettisoned the fuel before the crash, the reason for no explosion.

“His action has saved many lives.”