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The Clutha Helicopter Crash
🕑 Added 2023-11-07 11:15:01 +0000 UTCIn some footage of this disaster you can see Search and Rescue dogs brought in to look for survivors in the aftermath of the disaster. During my background reading I happened to stumble across a story about one of these dogs.
His name was Taz, and he was a Border Collie, who went on to live to the age of 14 (not bad for a dog with a job as stressful as his). During that time he assisted with numerous search and rescue operations, and missing person searches.
Before his passing, his efforts were recognised when he won an “Outstanding Life of a Working Dog” award at Crufts (an annual dog show in the UK). While he might not have known exactly what the award signified, he was probably more pleased when an anonymous admirer had some steak sent to his table.
Comments
Fascinating Horror
It's an interesting thought. If not for that trespasser, the helicopter might not have been out that night at all...
Fascinating Horror
Good point - it seems logical the sturdy construction of the walls may have helped minimise damage, but I actually mostly found references to how it complicated the rescue effort. For example, in this article - https://www.glasgowtimes.co.uk/news/13268952.the-clutha-tragedy-metre-thick-walls-slowed-recovery-bid/ - a Fire and Rescue officer talks about how the thick walls created more rubble, and meant that pulling down a wall to get better access to the site wasn't an option.
Anna Kalata
I'm curious as to why you called attention to the load bearing capacity of the walls and the "unique" roof that was added after the flats were demolished. Was there a conclusion that these factors prevented additional casualties my making the building more able to withstand the damage caused by the helicopter?
Angela Schwartz
So many deaths and so much property damage, all over a report of someone trespassing.
