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| Thai crash 'miracle' survivor | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| 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. | 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. |
| Ashley Harrow, from Moira, said the aircraft burst into flames shortly after crashing at Phuket airport. | Ashley Harrow, from Moira, said the aircraft burst into flames shortly after crashing at Phuket airport. |
| "The front end of the plane was just a giant fire ball," the 27-year-old said. | "The front end of the plane was just a giant fire ball," the 27-year-old said. |
| 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. | 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. |
| Mr Harrow described how he and another passenger, Peter James Hill, 35, from Manchester struggled to escape from an emergency exit. | 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 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. | "I grabbed the top lever and gave it a really hard pull and it just half opened. |
| Disbelief | 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. | "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 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." | "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. | 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. | "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 both the Cooley and Toland families have now arrived in 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |