| Hero driver of the Cumbrian rail crash speaks from hospital |
| Tuesday, 08 April 2008 | |
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The heroic driver of the Cumbrian rail crash has described the moment his Virgin Express careered off the tracks at 93mph. Brave Iain Black, 46, was thrown out of his seat and lost consciousness after being projected onto the train’s ceiling, in the accident at Grayrigg, near Kendal. He came to within a few seconds, crawled back into his seat and applied the emergency break to the runaway train. Mr Black, described as a hero by Virgin boss Richard Branson, told friends at Royal Preston Hospital: “I am so sorry somebody died. I did my best to stop but there was nothing I could do.” In a brief statement, Mr Black, from Dumbarton, Scotland, whose girlfriend has been at his bedside since the crash, said: “I am obviously distraught that one person died in the accident and saddened about those who remain seriously ill and I wish them a speedy recovery. “I am extremely grateful to all my friends, colleagues and employer for all their goodwill messages and support. Obviously I can’t say anything about the accident because of the ongoing investigation, but I am just glad that more people were not seriously injured.” Mr Black, suffered a broken collar bone, neck injuries and cuts and bruises in the crash nine days ago. An initial report into the crash found a set of faulty points were to blame. Two cranes are set to lift the remaining carriages today. |
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