A TRUE HERO OF TRAIN TRAGEDY
Friends & family pay tribute to rail worker Nicola who survived crash and walked 3 miles injured to raise alarm
TRAIN crash survivor Nicola Whyte walked three miles while injured to raise the alarm after the fatal derailment.
The 31-year-old was heading to her SCOTRAIL job on the 6.38 service when it came off the tracks near Stonehaven and killed three people.
Her sister said: “My heart goes out to all crew and passengers involved in the major incident.
“I am however a very proud sister of Nicola for walking three miles with injuries to get help for everyone.”
A HERO train worker who walked three miles while injured to raise the alarm after the Stonehaven crash was praised for her bravery yesterday as investigators revealed what led up to the horror derailment.
Nicola Whyte, from Huntly, Aberdeenshire, was off duty and travelling to work for ScotRail on the 6.38am service when it came off the tracks near Stonehaven on Wednesday, killing three people.
The 31-year-old’s proud family paid tribute to her on social media yesterday after ScotRail chiefs revealed an unnamed staff member had managed to reach a signal box, some distance from the crash site, to call for help before returning to the scene.
Nicola’s sister Gemma wrote on Facebook: “My heart goes out to all crew and passengers involved in the major incident. It’s absolutely heartbreaking for all involved and it’s such a difficult time for us all.
“I am however a very proud sister of Nicola for walking three miles with injuries to get help for everyone. Forever grateful that you’re OK.” In another message on behalf of Nicola, she wrote: “She would like to thank everyone who has wished her well and a speedy recovery after yesterday’s incident. She currently doesn’t have access to her phone due to police investigations.
“It has been an absolute nightmare for us all. Thank you again, all your kind wishes, they mean the world to Nicola and all our family. Stay safe, and hug your loved ones tighter.”
Scores of messages of support were left for Nicola on social media yesterday, with one pal calling her a “true hero”. Train driver Brett McCullough, 48, conductor Donald Dinnie, 58, and passenger Chris Stuchbury, 62, all died after the train hit a landslide in Carmont amid bad weather conditions.
An initial report into the accident by investigators confirmed what led up to the derailment yesterday.
Six other people, including Nicola, were injured. Two of them remained in hospital yesterday but NHS Grampian confirmed the victims are in a stable condition. David Simpson, operations director for ScotRail, paid tribute to the brave staff member, saying: “Colleagues are paying tribute to the staff involved, both those who lost their lives and another member of staff on board who was able to raise the alarm following the incident.
“All are dedicated members of staff, and it’s tragic that a driver and a conductor have lost their lives in these circumstances.
“The staff member who raised the alarm was travelling on the train, and was able to get to an adjacent signal box to raise the alarm after the incident.
“Obviously their account of events will be critical in establishing what happened, and that will be a key element of the investigation process.
“Again, I would pay tribute to the actions of that member of staff, following what must have been an extremely bad experience being involved in the actual incident.”
Transport Secretary Michael Matheson said that a number of actions were taken after the derailment to raise the alarm in the area, which had poor mobile phone coverage.
He said a call was made to police by someone who believed that an incident had taken place nearby after seeing smoke billowing from the site.
Describing Nicola’s efforts, he said: “There was also an off-duty railway person on the train who, after it derailed, walked to the next signal box and advised them that an incident had occurred, which allowed Network Rail at its national control centre to close the line.”
Two probes are being carried out to establish the cause of the derailment, which came after heavy downpours in the area.
Prince Charles visited the scene of the crash to thank the emergency services yesterday and met some of the first to respond in the wake of the tragedy.
Meanwhile, members of the public are being urged to pay their respects during a threeminute vigil dedicated to the victims at 7pm on Sunday.