Messages of goodwill flood in to fiancee
TRIBUTES have been paid to a Rangers fan who lost his life in a horror bus smash.
Ryan Baird, 39, was killed when the coach flipped near a roundabout on its way to Ibrox Stadium.
It’s understood the popular and muchloved figure – who originally hailed from Northern Ireland – was due to marry girlfriend Sarah Hughes, 29, shortly.
On Sarah’s public Facebook page, her profile picture was last night updated to the logo of the supporters’ group he belonged to.
Many anguished pals left messages of condolence on the Facebook page, detailing their utter disbelief at what had happened.
Ellis White wrote: “Sarah can’t believe this! Was just about crying when I heard about Ryan!”
Jeanette Gray said: “I’m so sorry to hear your sad news Sarah...I’m thinking of you and the family. God bless.”
Ryan, of Sanquhar, was on a coach carrying members of the Nith Valley Loyal Rangers Supporters Club from Dumfries to Glasgow when tragedy struck.
Eighteen passengers were taken to Crosshouse Hospital, Kilmarnock, following the accident. Two were last night described as being in a “serious” condition. In total, 37 people were on board including the driver.
As news spread of Ryan’s death, his cousin, Louise, praised her “incredible” relative.
Writing on Facebook, she commented: “RIP to my incredible cousin Ryan, who sadly passed away in the Rangers bus crash today.
“You were an amazing cousin and you will be sadly missed.”
In Sanqhuar, some of the Nith Valley Loyal Rangers Supporters Club drank in the Crown Inn.
The pub’s landlord Duncan Park said: “I’d like to offer my condolences to Ryan’s family.
“He was a customer and it has been very upsetting to learn of his death.”
Witnesses said the bus “swerved” before landing on its side on a grass verge on the A76 shortly after 1pm.
A hero dad who helped rescue 16 people from the bus last night recounted how he pulled stunned survivors from the wreckage.
Martin Brooks, 49, was on his way with wife Shona, son Sean, 23, and daughter Katie, 18, to nearby stables when he came across the bus lying on its side.
The forestry worker – who was first at the scene – helped the driver make a hole in the windscreen to let people off the bus.
Martin said: “We got there before the emergency services just after 1pm.
“We saw it was serious so got out the car to see what we could do to help.
“The driver had been trying to make a hole in the windscreen with his feet and a fire extinguisher but he was exhausted and unable to continue.
“The hole wasn’t big enough for people to escape through.”
The driver then passed the fire extinguisher to Martin who continued hammering at the windscreen to make an escape hole. He said: “it was a precarious situation. “Some people were conscious and others weren’t.”
The dad-of-two spent several minutes hitting the window before the hole was big enough to get people out.
The driver then rounded up the wounded who were able to move and passed them to Martin who was outside the bus.