FIREBALL HERO
Gregory and pals pull five from wreck
HEROIC bus passengers helped pull injured people from a wrecked car moments before it burst into flames yesterday. Ferry worker Gregory Kilcullen was travelling to work with CalMac colleagues when a car smashed into the back of their stationary vehicle. They jumped out of the coach and freed two trapped men from the badly damaged vehicle in Glasgow city centre. Gregory, 52, also helped a third passenger with a nasty head wound. Within seconds, smoke and flames began pouring from the bonnet as emergency services arrived. All five occupants were treated at the scene by paramedics and four of them were taken to Queen Elizabeth University Hospital. Their conditions last night were not known.
The heroic actions of Gregory and his colleagues were caught on camera.
Gregory, who lives on Arran, told how first aid and fire training he completed at work “came in handy”.
He said: “We were on the bus heading to Campbeltown and a car with five occupants crashed into the back of us.
“The bus was actually at a standstill at the traffic lights when the car hit us at speed. The car has then gone on fire. We managed to drag a few people out of it before that happened.
“One of the passengers had a massive cut on his forehead. The other passenger in the front was trapped in the car but we managed to get his feet free and pull him out. “There was a passenger in the back seat who was also stuck but we managed to get him out before it went up in flames.
“The only regret I have was that I wasn’t able to get a first aid kit to get a bandage on the injured passenger’s head.
“But things were happening quite fast. The main thing was to get them out of the car and as far away from it as possible.” He added: “I’m not a hero. We were just doing what we were trained to do with the company – first aid and fire fighting.
“All that training came in handy this morning. It’s definitely not something you expect to happen on your way to work though.”
Cowcaddens Road was closed between Cambridge Street and West Nile Street while fire crews put out the blaze and treated the car occupants. It is understood no one on the bus was hurt.
Police Scotland said: “A number of people from the car have been taken to hospital for treatment. There were no other reported injuries.”