First Minister Alex Salmond yesterday defended the work of the emergency services involved in the ongoing recovery operation at The Clutha bar in Glasgow.
Responding to criticisms of the pace of the recovery operation by a father who believes his son may have been one of the victims of Friday night’s tragedy, Mr Salmond described the actions of firefighters and other emergency workers as “exemplary”.
He added: “Everyone understands the enormity of loss that is felt by the families. That is totally understandable.
“But everybody in this country knows and understands the extraordinary courage of our emergency services which has been displayed for all to see over the last four days. They have been conducting an operation in extraordinarily difficult circumstances going way, way above and beyond the call of duty, as perhaps we expected, but nonetheless has been demonstrated.
“The work of the fire and rescue service has been absolutely impeccable.
“Everything which possibly could be done has been done – and it’s been done in a way which would make all of Scotland proud.”
He added: “People are defined not by tragedy – tragedies happen to individuals, they happen to cities, they happen to countries. People are defined by how they respond to tragedies.
“And whether it be the extraordinary courage of the citizens of Glasgow or the exemplary behaviour of our emergency services over the last few days you can all be absolutely sure that Scotland has met that test.”
Mark O’Prey has not been seen since the aircraft came down on The Clutha – also known as The Clutha Vaults – on Friday night. His father Ian said he believed the recovery of the helicopter was taking precedence over removing bodies from the wreckage, as police confirmed a ninth victim was found within the pub.
John McGarrigle said his father John sen was in The Clutha and had not yet been found. “I just want the phone call we were told we were going to get from the police,” he said. Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said crews have been working as quickly and safely as possible and that she understands the “frustration and the anguish” of people who are waiting for news. She visited Scottish Ambulance Service staff in Springburn, Glasgow, to thank them for their response to the crash.
“It is appropriate again to say how much all of us are thinking of those who have been bereaved,” she said. “It is not possible to imagine the grief and the anguish they are suffering but I hope it is of comfort to them that they know that the thoughts not just of the people across Glasgow but people across the country are with them.”