Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Daily Record
Daily Record
National
Keith McLeod

Clutha helicopter crash inquiry: Harrowing details of how victims died revealed

Harrowing details of how the Clutha helicopter victims died were read out at the Fatal Accident Inquiry today.

Relatives of the deceased bravely listened as the circumstances of the deaths were heard in detail.

It came in a joint minute of agreement - a legal mechanism which means the Crown and 14 other legal parties at the probe will not challenge the details.

Gary Arthur, 48, a sales advisor was found in the pub trapped by rubble. He had no pulse when found by mercy crews.

A post mortem found he had died from head injuries.

Victims (top l-r) Colin Gibson, Mark O'Prey, Samuel McGhee, Gary Arthur, Joe Cusker, (bottom l-r) John McGarrigle, David Traill, Pc Tony Collins, Robert Jenkins, Pc Kirsty Nelis (PA)

Clutha helicopter pilot 'should have issued mayday call long before crash'  

Tony Collins, 43, a police constable was found on the rear passenger seat of the aircraft behind the pilot.

He was trapped on the wreckage and had no pulse. He died from head, neck and chest injuries.

Joseph Cusker, 59, a retired housing manager, was found injured close to the entrance of the pub.

He was given oxygen but later died in hospital from multiple organ failure and chest and neck injuries.

Colin Gibson, 33, an immigration officer, was found trapped by rubble and part of the helicopter.

A post mortem found he died from traumatic asphyxia.

Robert Jenkins, 61, a customer service adviser, was found by firefighters trapped by debris beneath the helicopter. He had no pulse.

The cause of his death was head injury.

John McGarrigle, 58, a writer, was found trapped under rubble and had a faint pulse. But shortly afterwards no pulse was detected. He died from chest injuries.

Samuel McGhee, 56, a car wash maintenance worker, was found trapped by rubble. He died from chest injuries.

Police Officer Kirsty Nelis, 36, was found within the wreckage of the aircraft trapped between debris and instrumentation.
She had no pulse and no signs of life.

Mark O'Prey, 44, was trapped by rubble from the waist down. His was moving his head and "mumbling".
He was given oxygen but he low respiratory rate and lack of access because of the rubble made treatment difficult.

Police and Scottish Fire and Rescue services at the scene of a helicopter crash at the Clutha Bar in Glasgow (PA Wire)

Clutha helicopter crash inquiry reveals five separate low fuel warnings went off on doomed chopper  

Later, he was pronounced dead, caused by head, neck and chest injuries. Pilot David Traill, 51, was found within the helicopter.

He was in the right hand pilot's seat and was compressed by wreckage and debris. The cause of his death was head, neck and chest injuries.

In all cases " aircraft crash" was given as a cause of death in the post mortems. All three victims on the helicopter were tested for drugs and alcohol. In all cases the toxicology tests were found to be negative.

The tragedy happened on November 29, 2013.

Scottish Fire and Rescue service and rescue workers at the scene of the crash (PA)

The inquiry, before Sheriff Principal Craig Turnbull, continues.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.