Helpful locals hailed as heroes

LOCALS who rallied round after the Stonehaven rail disaster have been hailed as heroes as details of their efforts emerged.

In the aftermath of the derailment, which left three people dead and six injured, credit was paid to emergency services and railway workers who helped those affected.

Now, a light has been shone on the rural residents who went out of their way to help in smaller, invaluable, ways.

Among them are locals who lined country roads to point the bluelight crews in the right direction, farmers who cleared paths to ensure they could access the scene of the accident, and a man who spent five hours directing traffic to the right place.

Residents living near the crash site at Carmont, about four miles south of Stonehaven, were crucial in supporting the emergency services as first responders raced down rural roads to reach the stretch of railway.

A resident told

how locals began to line the streets to direct crews to the crash site in a bid to help however they could.

Provost of Aberdeenshire Bill Howatson hailed the response in Carmont and the wider Stonehaven area.

He said: “This response at such a tragic time demonstrates a very real community spirit for which I thank you all personally and for which you must be applauded.”

The National Farmers’ Union Scotland (NFUS) also commended locals who stepped up to assist. Chris Taylor of Annamuick farm was among the first on the scene and has been providing his field, near the line, as a base for investigators.

North-east regional manager for the NFUS, Lorna Paterson, said: “Farmers are humble by nature but they can be heroes.”