This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/north_yorkshire/7039412.stm

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Glider crash man meets rescuers Glider crash man meets rescuers
(about 4 hours later)
A glider pilot who spent more than 27 hours in crash wreckage has met the RAF crew who helped rescue him.A glider pilot who spent more than 27 hours in crash wreckage has met the RAF crew who helped rescue him.
John Russell, 65, from York, crashed on a hillside near Braemar, in the north of Scotland, during a gliding competition in July last year. John Russell, 65, from York, crashed on a hillside near Braemar, in the north of Scotland, during a gliding competition in July 2006.
A Tornado from RAF Lossiemouth located the wreckage after a search covering 1,000 sq miles. He was found by a Tornado crew from RAF Lossiemouth using "the oldest piece of kit in the service, a Mark1 eyeball".
On Thursday Mr Russell travelled to RAF Leeming in North Yorkshire to thank the two airmen who found him.On Thursday Mr Russell travelled to RAF Leeming in North Yorkshire to thank the two airmen who found him.
It was a remarkable feat of survival Sqn Ldr Roger OrganIt was a remarkable feat of survival Sqn Ldr Roger Organ
Mr Russell spent 27-and-a-half hours trapped and exposed to the elements with a shattered left leg before Sqn Ldr Roger Organ and Flt Lt Mark Haley spotted the wreck and radioed for help. Mr Russell was trapped and exposed to the elements with a shattered left leg before Sqn Ldr Roger Organ and Flt Lt Mark Haley spotted the wreck and radioed for help.
After meeting them on Thursday Mr Russell, who still has to walk with a stick after the accident, said: "It's absolutely wonderful to meet them.After meeting them on Thursday Mr Russell, who still has to walk with a stick after the accident, said: "It's absolutely wonderful to meet them.
"I've thought about it an awful lot, also it's very emotional for me because I've got in my mind clearly how I sat for all those hours.""I've thought about it an awful lot, also it's very emotional for me because I've got in my mind clearly how I sat for all those hours."
Mr Russell described what it was like to be stranded.Mr Russell described what it was like to be stranded.
'Expecting body'
"It was a bit of a long haul, particularly through the night when I didn't have a coat, it was pouring with rain, I was frozen stiff. It was just a bit of an arduous long haul," he said."It was a bit of a long haul, particularly through the night when I didn't have a coat, it was pouring with rain, I was frozen stiff. It was just a bit of an arduous long haul," he said.
'Expecting body'
The pilots told how they were amazed when Mr Russell waved at them and had to fly past twice to make sure he was definitely still alive.The pilots told how they were amazed when Mr Russell waved at them and had to fly past twice to make sure he was definitely still alive.
Sqn Ldr Organ said: "It was just a sheer surprise, the two of us were just expecting to find a body. It was a remarkable feat of survival."Sqn Ldr Organ said: "It was just a sheer surprise, the two of us were just expecting to find a body. It was a remarkable feat of survival."
One of the rescuers who had been scouring the bleak hills said at the time "it was like looking for a needle in a haystack".
Thanking the pilots, Mr Russell said: "You probably don't appreciate how much it meant to me to go round and round me until the helicopter came. It gave me a feeling of wellbeing and morale, it lifted me so much."Thanking the pilots, Mr Russell said: "You probably don't appreciate how much it meant to me to go round and round me until the helicopter came. It gave me a feeling of wellbeing and morale, it lifted me so much."
Mr Russell said he had been flying in a two-seater glider since the accident but did not know if he would fly alone again.Mr Russell said he had been flying in a two-seater glider since the accident but did not know if he would fly alone again.
In May a report into the crash concluded that Mr Russell survived thanks to "extreme good luck".In May a report into the crash concluded that Mr Russell survived thanks to "extreme good luck".
The report by the British Gliding Association said it was reviewing its advice to clubs and pilots on carrying emergency homing devices in remote areas.The report by the British Gliding Association said it was reviewing its advice to clubs and pilots on carrying emergency homing devices in remote areas.