Rescuers close to finding last blast victim
Rescue workers said today they were “very, very close” to finding the last victim of the factory blast in Glasgow.
Firemaster Brian Sweeney revealed that thermal imaging cameras and the ringing of a mobile phone had helped his team inch closer to the location of the man beneath the rubble of the Stockline Plastics factory.
The building in the Maryhill area was destroyed by an explosion at midday on Tuesday, killing eight people.
The Strathclyde Fire Brigade commander also said the unidentified man’s wife had begged rescuers: “Get him out.”
He said: “The family are very, very, very distressed.
“They asked me to pass on their regards to the firefighters who are risking their lives to save this man. Basically she asked me to get him out.”
Mr Sweeney said the rescue team was pouring all its resources into an area to the rear of the left side of the building where the sound of a voice was heard yesterday morning.
The firemaster said around 75% of that specific area had been searched.
Around 65% of the entire blast site has now been examined by rescuers.
Firefighters are using sniffer dogs, visual and listening devices and lifting equipment, Mr Sweeney said.
“That area represents our best hope, it’s not our only hope but it represents our best hope.
“We are getting very, very close and I’ve conveyed that to the family.”
Mr Sweeney revealed that thermal imaging pictures taken by a helicopter and the sound of a mobile phone detected ringing deep beneath the rubble had helped target the search.
“We have taken an overview and thermal imaging overhead shots of the building with a helicopter.
“We hope it will identify any hotspots that remain in the building. We are acting now on more specific information.
“The helicopter gave us more information about areas we had previously been searching and allowed us to target our resources more specifically.”
He said the rescue effort was a “deliberate, painstaking and dangerous task”, hampered by steel girders which could result in the firefighters making only six inches of progress in one hour.
He continued: “We have been able to obtain certain pieces of information about the location of the casualty.”
Mr Sweeney added there had been “no voice contact” but if a mobile phone was ringing or going on to voicemail then that sound may be detectable through special equipment.
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