MANCHESTER UNITED legend Harry Gregg has died aged 87.
The Munich Air Disaster hero saved the lives of Bobby Charlton and Denis Viollet, amongst others, as he pulled them from the burning wreckage.
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Gregg was travelling back from a European Cup game in 1958 with the rest of the ‘Busby Babes’ when the airplane they were travelling crashed while attempting to take off on the slush-covered runway at Munich-Riem Airport.
Gregg was hailed the hero of the tragedy after he escaped he went back into the burning wreckage to rescue Vera Lukic, the pregnant wife of a Yugoslav diplomat, and her young daughter, Vesna.
He then returned to the plane and rescued injured pair Charlton and Viollet, manager Matt Busby and Northern Ireland international team-mate Jackie Blanchflower.
World Cup winner Charlton said in a 2017 BBC documentary: “I was just lucky and sitting in the right place. We never got off the floor and ran into a house and into a few other obstacles. It was just a nightmare.
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“When we got to the hospital I started ranting and raving. I just didn’t understand.
“The medical people came around and gave me an injection in the back of my neck and I just collapsed. I didn’t wake up until the following morning.
“This German lad was there and he had a paper. He had a list of all the players and he read them out and if they were alive he would say ‘yes’ and if they were dead he said ‘no’.”
Tragically, 23 people died in the disaster, including England international Duncan Edwards, captain Roger Byrne as well as a coach, club official, steward, supporter, travel agent the co-pilot and journalists.
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Charlton, 82, is the only remaining survivor from the disaster 62-years ago.
Gregg made 210 appearances for United between 1957–1966 but ended his career with Stoke playing just one season before retiring in 1967.
As an international Gregg made 25 appearances for Northern Ireland and was voted the best goalkeeper in the 1958 World Cup in Sweden.
Tributes were paid for the ex-goalkeeper as it was revealed he died “peacefully in hospital”.
The Harry Gregg Foundation said: “It is with great sorrow that we inform of the death of Manchester United and Northern Ireland legend Harry Gregg, OBE.
“Harry passed away peacefully in hospital surrounded by his loving family.
“The Gregg family would like to thank the medical staff at Causeway Hospital for their wonderful dedication to Harry over his last few weeks.
“To everyone who has called, visited or sent well wishes we thank you for the love and respect shown to Harry and the family.”
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