£1m. expression of nations's grief

PM prices survivors' ‘great inner strength’

The Prime Minister told the people of Aberdeen yesterday: “We grieve for you.”

Her public expression of sorrow for all those caught up in the Piper Alpha tragedy came as she pledged £1,000,000 of Government cash to the Lord Provost's disaster fund.

Mrs Thatcher was speaking after meeting survivors of the blast in Aberdeen Royal Infirmary and chatting with some of their rescuers.

Dressed in black, the Prime Minister paid tribute to the bravery of those who had been spared.

She said: “These are people with great inner strength and great capacity to endure a disaster. I was amazed at how high their morale is.

“They realise the terrible ordeal they have been through. They are talking about their experiences and the doctors are encouraging them to do so.”

‘Totally bereft’

She said they were even prepared to give clues to bereaved relatives about the last moments of loved ones.

“They are conscious that there are others who are totally bereft and we must look after them.”

The survivors, said Mrs Thatcher, were speaking about how much better they felt already, and she said a lot of the credit for that was due to the doctors who had gathered their medical equipment and headed offshore as soon as they heard of the disaster.

“The survivors did not have to wait for treatment until they got to hospital. The doctors went to help them.”

Mrs Thatcher spent more than an hour with the injured and was given an on-the-spot tour of the intensive care unit. It had the latest equipment, she said.

Techhniques were being used that had been first invented at the Bradford and Kings Cross disasters, and plastic surgeons appeared to be learning new methods all the time.

“This whole explosion clearly was very deeply shocking in its magnitude and the numbers of lives lost.”

‘Oh yes, very moving’

Asked whether some of the patients' stories had been particularly touching, she replied: “Oh yes, very moving.”

But for the speed at which doctors and nurses had acted many would have suffered much worse injuries.

“The heat was colossal. Some people who had no option but to jump told how warm the water was. One of the rescued was even badly burned by the water.”

She was struck by the amount of information and knowledge the survivors had which she hoped would go towards ensuring such a tragedy never happened again.

She promised that any lessons of a technological nature which became apparent in advance of the full public inquiry would be implemented immediately.

Saying she had been unable to pay her respects to Aberdeen Lord Provost Robert Robertson in person, she stressed: “Through him I would like to say to the people of Aberdeen how very much we grieve for them.”

She said the Government felt it was right to contribute £1,000,000 to the disaster fund “to get it off to a good start” .

“Those who have suffered so much should not have shortage of money added to their problems.”

Mrs Thatcher's pledge matched that of Occidental Petroleum Corporation chairman and chief executive Dr. Armand Hammer, on whom she lavished praise.

“He is a marvellous person who we have known for years and who has given money to many charities. He is a man who has by his own efforts done well. He makes certain that as he himself has prospered so he helps others and I am sure he will look after the families.”

Mrs Thatcher said the emergency services had worked together superbly. “They know they have done a really good job and rightly feel that nothing more could possibly have been done than what was done.”

The Prime Minister said she was “very anxious” to see for herself the situation on the ground but had felt it was best to delay her visit until some of the pressure was off the Royal Infirmary's medical staff.

Mrs Thatcher was accompanied by her husband, Denis, and Scottish Secretary Mr Malcolm Rifkind and was greeted at the hospital by Grampian Health Board chairman Mr Bill Ellis.

After touring the hospital wards she then made for the infirmary helipad to meet police, ambulancemen, coastguards and RAF helicopter personnel who had been on duty at the height of the drama.

Among those present was Flt. Lt. Steve Hodgson who was airborne with his crew for more than nine hours, plucking survivors from the water. He said the enormity of the tragedy was only beginning to sink in.

“We were pleased to have been able to help. We just wish we could have done more.

“It is very rewarding that the Prime Minister has taken the time to visit the casualties.”

He said she had thanked all concerned for their efforts in saving as many who had been saved.