Tributes have been paid to former Manchester United goalkeeper and Munich Air Disaster survivor Harry Gregg.
Gregg, who signed for United in December 1957, passed away peacefully in hospital aged 87.
His death was announced by the Harry Gregg foundation this morniing.
A statement posted on Facebook said: "It is with great sorrow that we inform of the death of Manchester United and Northern Ireland legend Harry Gregg, OBE.
"Harry passed away peacefully in hospital surrounded by his loving family."
Read more of today's top stories here
The Northern Irishman played 247 times for the Old Trafford club between 1957 and 1966.
He was one of the survivors of the 1958 Munich Air Disaster, when a plane carrying the Manchester United team crashed in heavy snow after several aborted take-offs.
Manchester United said in a statement this morning: "It is with deepest sadness that we have learned of the passing of former player Harry Gregg OBE.
"The thoughts and prayers of everyone at the club go out to Harry’s family and friends."
Gregg will be remembered for his heroism as he helped rescue a mother and young baby from the burning wreckage.
He also pulled some of his teammates from the burning plane, including Bobby Charlton, Jackie Blanchflower, Dennis Viollett and his manager Sir Matt Busby.
However, the tragedy claimed the lives of 23 people, including eight of his team mates.
Gregg, who also played for Linfield Swifts, Coleraine and Doncaster Rovers, won 25 caps for his country between 1954 and 1963, BelfastLive reports .
He also starred for Northern Ireland at the 1958 World Cup finals in Sweden when a team captained by Danny Blanchflower reached the quarter-finals of the competition.
Gregg, who finished his career with Stoke City after leaving Manchester United, was later named goalkeeper of the tournament in Sweden.
The Harry Gregg Foundation has asked that the privacy of the family be respected "at this difficult time" and said funeral arranges will be revealed in the coming days.
