Thursday 13th May 2004
Glasgow rescuers still have hope
12.44PM, Thu May 13 2004
Rescuers at the site of the Glasgow factory explosion said they believe are "very, very close" to finding the last victim in the rubble.
The confirmed death toll is eight. One body was removed overnight after being found in an area towards the front of the devastated building.
Strathclyde 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.
Mr Sweeney, who is leading the operation, said crews have searched about 50 per cent of the disaster site.
"We remain optimistic, sleeves are rolled up and morale is high."
Fire chief upbeat on blast search
Rescue crews are working round-the-clock to find the missing man
The search for the man still missing after the Glasgow factory explosion has been described as an "achievable rescue" by Strathclyde's firemaster.
Brian Sweeney remained optimistic that the man could be found alive in the debris of Stockline Plastics, 48 hours after the explosion occurred.
Eight people are known to have been killed and many others seriously injured in the blast.
A helicopter using thermal imaging equipment has been used in the search.
Mr Sweeney told reporters: "We are acting on information that we have received. It would be unprofessional of me to comment on that information at this time.
"We have teams in there, sniffer dogs in there, fire fighters are tunnelling in there."
Mr Sweeney said that the search was being concentrated on the central part of the building.
Family informed
"We are inching closer and closer towards where we had heard knocking noises.
"We don't know if we are at the area yet, but we do believe that we are getting very close and I have conveyed that to the family."
"The knocking may or may not be located to them, but that person may have lapsed into unconsciousness.
NAMES OF THE DEAD
Annette Doyle, 24, Glasgow
Ann Trench, 34, Colston, Glasgow
Thomas McAulay, 41, Mount Florida
Tracey McErlane, 27, Possilpark
Margaret Brownlie, 49, Strathaven
Peter Ferguson, 52, Kilbarchan
Stewart McColl, 60, West Kilbride
Evidence suggests he could have survived. Until I know there is 100% possibility no-one has survived, I believe that this is an achievable rescue."
Overnight, sections of the roof of the building were lifted away by crane, exposing previously inaccessible areas.
The body of the eighth victim was recovered from the debris shortly before 0100 BST.
On Thursday, police said one person who had been in a serious condition at the Southern General Hospital was now stable and two are "comfortable".
Three remain serious at Glasgow Royal Infirmary where five are "stable" and one has been discharged.
At the Western Infirmary, six are serious and at the Victoria Infirmary, one person is "comfortable".
