Glasgow helicopter crash: Victim named

BBC News 

Police have named one of the eight people who died after a helicopter crashed into a busy Glasgow pub.

Gary Arthur, 48, was from the Paisley area, Police Scotland said.

Three occupants of the Police Scotland aircraft died when it hit The Clutha at about 22:25 GMT on Friday. A further five people inside the pub also died.

Emergency services are continuing the operation to recover any remaining bodies. Prayers for the dead will be offered at Glasgow Cathedral later.

A further 14 people are being treated for serious injuries.

Helicopter embedded

Police Scotland said in a statement that "the body of a male has been recovered from the scene".

"The male has now been identified as Gary Arthur, aged 48, from the Paisley area. His family have been informed.

"Extensive efforts continue to recover the remaining bodies from the scene but, due to ongoing safety constraints, this is likely to take some time."

The BBC's Scotland correspondent, Colin Blane, said emergency teams working through the wreckage had two main purposes.

They wanted to be sure they had located everyone who might have been trapped inside and they wanted to recover as much of the police helicopter as they could to help find out what went wrong.

It was a highly unusual crash site because of the way the helicopter was embedded almost entirely within the building, our correspondent added.

Officers from Police Scotland's major investigations team have asked for any footage of the incident to be emailed to: glasgowhelicopterincident@scotland.pnn.police.uk

In a separate inquiry, the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) will try to establish what caused the crash.

Its team will be assisted by experts from Eurocopter, which manufactured the EC135 T2 aircraft.

The three occupants of the helicopter who died were two police officers and a civilian pilot.

Helicopter operator Bond Air Services will assist Police Scotland and the AAIB with their investigations.

'Whoosh sound'

Candles will be lit and prayers said for the dead and injured at Glasgow Cathedral at 11:00 GMT in a service attended by Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill.

The Clutha, in Stockwell Street by the River Clyde, was packed with about 120 people listening to live music when the helicopter crashed on to the roof.

Eyewitnesses outside described how the aircraft "fell like a stone".

Others described people working together to get out of the pub aided by others who were in the area.

Alleena Coupe, who was in the pub, told BBC Radio 5 live's Stephen Nolan: "I heard this 'whoosh' sound like when you take the seal off something, then this cloud of dust came down and, within five seconds, nobody could see anything."

She said she had a torch with her which she used to guide people out of the pub.

"The dust was choking, it burned our throats," she added. "People were running about and panicking while everyone was trying to help get anyone out."

'Black day'

A total of 32 people were taken to hospital, 18 of whom were later discharged.

Health officials said 14 were still being treated for serious injuries, which ranged from "chest injuries, head injuries, long-bone fractures and lacerations".

Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond described it as a "black day for Glasgow and for Scotland" but highlighted "the instinctive courage of ordinary Glaswegians going to assist their fellow citizens in extremity".

Prime Minister David Cameron also paid tribute to the bravery of the "ordinary Glaswegians" who rushed to help.

Within the city, efforts continue to help survivors and the bereaved.

Glasgow City Council is operating a family reception centre, at 40 John Street, to help those affected.

The Police Scotland Casualty Bureau number is 0800 092 0410 - for those concerned about relatives.

Elsewhere, flags are flying at half-mast on Scottish government buildings.