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Service in memory of air disaster | Service in memory of air disaster |
(about 2 hours later) | |
A special service has taken place to remember the victims and survivors of the Stockport air disaster. | |
Seventy-two passengers and crew were killed when a plane, suffering a fuel problem, ploughed into land in Stockport town centre in 1967. | Seventy-two passengers and crew were killed when a plane, suffering a fuel problem, ploughed into land in Stockport town centre in 1967. |
The service was held at the crash site at Hopes Carr, where survivors, rescuers, relatives and councillors paid tribute to those who died. | The service was held at the crash site at Hopes Carr, where survivors, rescuers, relatives and councillors paid tribute to those who died. |
A rose tree was planted at the site followed by a minute's silence. | A rose tree was planted at the site followed by a minute's silence. |
The next thing I remember were flames coming from the cockpit towards me Vivienne Thornber, crash survivor | The next thing I remember were flames coming from the cockpit towards me Vivienne Thornber, crash survivor |
Disaster struck just after 1000 BST on Sunday 4 June when a British Midlands flight returning from Majorca suffered a problem with fuel and began to fail. | Disaster struck just after 1000 BST on Sunday 4 June when a British Midlands flight returning from Majorca suffered a problem with fuel and began to fail. |
The pilot managed to bring the plane down on a patch of wasteland in Stockport town centre, avoiding a petrol station and a block of flats. | The pilot managed to bring the plane down on a patch of wasteland in Stockport town centre, avoiding a petrol station and a block of flats. |
Vivienne Thornber, who was one of the 12 survivors, recalled what happened. | |
She said: "I remember it just dropping like a stone. The next thing I remember were flames coming from the cockpit towards me, which made me scream. | She said: "I remember it just dropping like a stone. The next thing I remember were flames coming from the cockpit towards me, which made me scream. |
"Then somebody had their hands under my arms and was trying to pull me out and I was screaming that my legs were trapped. | "Then somebody had their hands under my arms and was trying to pull me out and I was screaming that my legs were trapped. |
"I lost all consciousness until I woke up and was in Stockport Infirmary." | "I lost all consciousness until I woke up and was in Stockport Infirmary." |
'Hero' | 'Hero' |
She was rescued by the late Pc Bill Oliver, who was first on the crash scene. | |
He pulled two women to safety as the plane became an inferno and helped rescue the other 10 survivors. | He pulled two women to safety as the plane became an inferno and helped rescue the other 10 survivors. |
Stockport mayor, Councillor June Somekh, said: "It marks a dark day in Stockport's history. | |
"So many people suffered terrible loss and the memories live on 40 years later. | "So many people suffered terrible loss and the memories live on 40 years later. |
"The ceremony was time for everyone to reflect and remember those people who lost their lives in the crash and those who fought so heroically to rescue them." | "The ceremony was time for everyone to reflect and remember those people who lost their lives in the crash and those who fought so heroically to rescue them." |
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