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Tube survivor meets rescue family | Tube survivor meets rescue family |
(about 2 hours later) | |
A man who was saved by a woman from a fatal crush at a London Underground station during World War II has met his rescuer's family after 66 years. | A man who was saved by a woman from a fatal crush at a London Underground station during World War II has met his rescuer's family after 66 years. |
Alfie Morris was 13 years old when he went to take shelter from an impending air-raid in Bethnal Green Tube station, east London, on 3 March 1943. | |
Maude Chumbley grabbed his hair and saved him from the crush as hundreds of people climbed down the stairs. | Maude Chumbley grabbed his hair and saved him from the crush as hundreds of people climbed down the stairs. |
A total of 173 people, including many children, were killed in the crush. | A total of 173 people, including many children, were killed in the crush. |
Mrs Chumbley also survived but she died more than 50 years ago. | |
'Overwhelmed with grief' | 'Overwhelmed with grief' |
Mr Morris's wife had been researching the story and had tried to contact Mrs Chumbley's relatives for more than two years. | |
Mrs Chumbley's granddaughter read an article in a newspaper last week and got in touch with Mrs Morris. | |
Mr Morris said he became emotional when he met Mrs Chumbley's granddaughter Sussane Lane outside the Tube station. | |
"I just couldn't believe my luck when my wife told me last week that she had found Mrs Chumbley's relatives," he said. | "I just couldn't believe my luck when my wife told me last week that she had found Mrs Chumbley's relatives," he said. |
"When I met Mrs Chumbley's granddaughter it brought back all the memories of Mrs Chumbley pulling me out and I was overwhelmed with grief. | "When I met Mrs Chumbley's granddaughter it brought back all the memories of Mrs Chumbley pulling me out and I was overwhelmed with grief. |
"But it won't be complete until I can go and plant a tree by Mrs Chumbley's grave." | "But it won't be complete until I can go and plant a tree by Mrs Chumbley's grave." |
Mrs Lane read a piece written by Mr Morris where he recounted his rescue. | Mrs Lane read a piece written by Mr Morris where he recounted his rescue. |
She said: "It started a week ago when I read the weekend story in a magazine and I just couldn't believe it that somebody had remembered my nana. | She said: "It started a week ago when I read the weekend story in a magazine and I just couldn't believe it that somebody had remembered my nana. |
"I've always been proud of her, she's always been special and when the tears had stopped flowing I had to get in touch with Alf." | "I've always been proud of her, she's always been special and when the tears had stopped flowing I had to get in touch with Alf." |
Maude Chumbley tried to pull Alfie Morris by his hair | Maude Chumbley tried to pull Alfie Morris by his hair |
Mr Morris, from Hornchurch, Essex, is also one of the organisers of the Stairway to Heaven campaign, which calls for a permanent memorial to the dead. | |
According to official reports, a woman with a baby and bundle of bedding tripped in the darkness on wet steps, resulting in an elderly man falling over her. | According to official reports, a woman with a baby and bundle of bedding tripped in the darkness on wet steps, resulting in an elderly man falling over her. |
Within a few seconds 300 people were caught in the suffocating crush. | Within a few seconds 300 people were caught in the suffocating crush. |
Recounting the rescue, Mr Morris said: "First of all she (Mrs Chumbley) grabbed me hair - 'gotcha', she went, and she pulled. | |
"She could see that I couldn't get out so then she put her arms under my armpits and lifted me out. | "She could see that I couldn't get out so then she put her arms under my armpits and lifted me out. |
"Then she said to me 'You go downstairs and tell nothing of what's happening here - nothing at all'," he added. | "Then she said to me 'You go downstairs and tell nothing of what's happening here - nothing at all'," he added. |
Campaigners have managed to raise £175,000 of the £650,000 needed to build the memorial and are appealing for donations. | |
Mr Morris said: "When this memorial is up and these people could be remembered, I would die a happy man." | Mr Morris said: "When this memorial is up and these people could be remembered, I would die a happy man." |
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