Clapham Rail Crash 1988
Fireman Tony Hanlon and Fireman John Hurwood
Fireman Hanlon was a crew member of Euston fire station's Emergency Rescue Tender which was ordered to the incident as part of the first 'Make-Up' attendance. On arrival, his officer-in-charge ordered Fireman Hanlon to reconnnoitre the crash site while the other crew members carried the Tender's lifting, spreading and cutting equipment down to the trackside.
Fireman Hanlon's attention was very quickly drawn to the Buffet Car, one of
the three severely compacted carriages, where a live male casualty was trapped
upside down in the wreckage, reassuring and comforting the man. Fireman Hanlon
began moving debris by hand until his colleagues arrived with spreading equipment
to assist in freeing the man. After working on the extrication of several
other live casualties within the difficult confines of the Buffet Car, Fireman
Hanlon went to search another severely compacted carriage. Despite the difficulties
and hazards imposed by its devastated structure, he assisted in locating and
recovering two live casualties before working on the release of another live
male who was trapped by a metal and timber bulkhead embedded into his right
ankle. A medical team was attending the man and Fireman Hanlon contributed
to this difficult rescue by working from beneath the carriage with the spreader
equipment.
Hearing that the guard of the Poole to Waterloo train was alive, trapped and
severely injured in the third compacted carriage, Fireman Hanlon and other
Euston ERT crew members went to assist. In the guard's van, they found a medical
team desperately trying to stabilise the man. The guard's torso was inside
the carriage but both legs, one of which was almost severed, were trapped
underneath the carriage.
Fi reman Hanlon made it his first priority to free the guard's legs from beneath
the carriage. Despite his determined efforts over a period of 15 to 20 minutes,
only part of his right leg was able to be freed. Mindful of his unavoidably
slow progress and the seriousness of the guard's injuries, he decided to work
on effecting release from the inside. He knew that the guard's bodily position
within the internal wreckage would preclude any attempt to extricate him quickly
but he felt sure that this was the only chance of releasing him alive. Before
he could get to work, it was necessary for the guard to receive further medical
attention.
As soon as permitted by the medical team, Fireman Hanlon began working with
spreaders and a 14-ton jack This attempt was unsuccessful and, after a further
pause for the guard to be given medical attention, he brought into use two
10-ton Porto-Power rams. Two small air bags had been positioned with the help
of other firefighters and, after a further interval for the medical team to
attend to the guard, Fireman Hanlon positioned two Hydromite jacks, one on
either side of the guard. These jacks were then operated by firefighters positioned
underneath the carriage. Before the guard was able to be totally extricated,
Fireman Hanlon had to cut loose and empty the contents of a shoulder bag the
guard was carrying. Fireman Hanlon and his colleagues very carefully placed
the guard on a stretcher and carried him out, handing him over to the care
of ambulance service personnel. This difficult rescue was carried out under
the most punishing and precarious conditions and was achieved after some one-and-a-half
hours of combined and concentrated effort by Euston's ERT members under the
leadership of Fireman Hanlon.
Doubtless exhausted both physically and mentally, without pausing, he went
back to the Buffet Car to assist in the release of a live male casualty, who
was being monitored by a doctor. The man was trapped from the chest down with
a metal bar around his head. In a very confined and precarious position, Fireman
Hanlon managed to take up a position slightly above and to the right-hand
side of another firefighter who was using spreader and cutting equipment.
Fireman Hanlon sustained this cramped position for a considerable proportion
of the two-hour rescue. He assisted his colleague by holding a light to illuminate
the area, progressively removing pieces of debris and helping to operate a
set of spreaders until the man's complete release was effected. He was the
last live casualty to be extricated from the wreckage.
Fireman Hanlon remained fully committed to search, extrication and recovery
work until relieved of operational activity.
By its very nature, Emergency Tender work brings the individual into contact
with a wide range of incidents involving human entrapment and thereby varying
degrees of human suffering. Given Fireman Hanlon's breadth of experienece,
he was to face carnage, devastation and suffering of a proportion beyond his
experience and, doubtless, his comprehension. His dedication, skill and expertise
in the specialist field of extrication work doubtless saved lives and lessened
the suffering for casualties of this tragic incident.
For: Outstanding Professionalism, Leadership, Courage and Compassion the Chief
Officer is pleased to award Fireman Hanlon a Certificate of Commendation.
Fireman Hurwood was the driver crew member of Euston
fire station's Emergency Rescue Tender which was mobilised to the incident
as part of the initial 'Make Up' attendance.
On arrival, he assisted his colleagues in carrying the Tender's lifting, spreading
and cutting equipment down to the trackside.
Fully committed to search, rescue and recovery work throughout his attendance
at this tragic incident, he assisted in the difficult extrication work on
several live casualties.
In particular, Fireman Hurwood's skill and expertise in Emergency Rescue Tender
work was invaluable in the release of the Poole to Waterloo railway guard
and a male passenger trapped in the severely compacted Buffet Car. In the
latter case, he organised and led the protracted rescue operation, working
for some two hours in extremely confined and difficult circumstances.
Fireman Hurwood demonstrated a high degree of initiative and determination
in the early, crucial stages of this major emergency services rescue operation.
For: Professionalism and Leadership, Determination and Compass/on in the face
of severe adversity the Chief Officer is pleased to award Fireman Hurwood
a Letter of Congratulations.
