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NI Thai crash victim 'improving' Thai crash 'miracle' survivor
(about 4 hours later)
One of two Londonderry men who were on board a plane which crashed in Thailand on Sunday is sitting up and talking. A County Down man who survived a plane crash in Thailand in which 89 people died has said it was a miracle he was not killed or seriously injured.
The Irish Consul in Bangkok, Helene Fallon Wood, has visited Christopher Cooley in hospital. Ashley Harrow, from Moira, said the aircraft burst into flames shortly after crashing at Phuket airport.
Mr Cooley's friend Aaron Toland, 22, died in the crash at Phuket airport, which killed at least 89 people. "The front end of the plane was just a giant fire ball," the 27-year-old said.
"He (Christopher) certainly has improved considerably since yesterday," said Ms Fallon Wood. Two other men from Londonderry were also on board. Aaron Toland, 22, died in the crash. His friend Christopher Cooley is being treated in hospital.
"I explained to him that some of his family were on the way and he's very delighted that he'll be able to see them." Mr Harrow described how he and another passenger, Peter James Hill, 35, from Manchester struggled to escape from an emergency exit.
"I took my seatbelt off, looked across and seen Peter trying to open the door," he said.
"I grabbed the top lever and gave it a really hard pull and it just half opened.
Disbelief
"Peter got out and I gave it another good tug and that was it the door came out I jumped out onto the wing and away from the plane.
"I just couldn't take what was happening in. After I got out and looked back, I couldn't believe I was on that plane and actually got out of it.
"I was still walking and was actually ok, I'm not burnt or cut anywhere."
The Irish Consul in Bangkok, Helene Fallon Wood, has visited Mr Cooley in hospital. She said his condition had improved considerably since Monday.
"I explained to him that some of his family were on the way and he's very delighted that he'll be able to see them," she said.
Members of the Toland family are also on their way to Phuket.Members of the Toland family are also on their way to Phuket.
The two friends had been on their way to Australia, where they intended to stay for a year.The two friends had been on their way to Australia, where they intended to stay for a year.
A third Northern Ireland man who was on the flight, Ashley Harrow from Moira, County Down, is said to be recovering well.
Air crash investigators are now trying to establish whether pilot error caused the weekend crash.Air crash investigators are now trying to establish whether pilot error caused the weekend crash.
Derry man Aaron Toland (pictured) died in the crash
There were 123 passengers and seven crew on board the flight from Bangkok when it crashed on landing in poor weather at Phuket airport on Sunday.There were 123 passengers and seven crew on board the flight from Bangkok when it crashed on landing in poor weather at Phuket airport on Sunday.
Eight of the survivors are thought to be British.Eight of the survivors are thought to be British.
There were four Irish people on board the plane. Three are being treated for their injuries and one is still missing.There were four Irish people on board the plane. Three are being treated for their injuries and one is still missing.
Irishman John O'Donnell was among those who escaped.
"You could tell there was a problem. The plane was flying around trying to land. It was making some noises and it was bad rain," he said.