MAN UNITED MUNICH DISASTER:50 YRS ON

0 Comments | Sunday Mirror, Feb 3, 2008 | by MARK McINTOSOH

ZORAN Lukic dreamt of an heroic figure who saved not only his life but that of his mother and sister.

Until last year, Zoran had never met the man in his dreams - Harry Gregg.

Zoran's pregnant mother Vera Lukic was on board Flight BEA 609 from Munich to Manchester on the snowy afternoon of February 6 1958.

Also on board was Manchester United squad, the iconic Busby Babes, en route home after their European Cup quarterfinal with Red Star Belgrade.

Soon after take off, at 3.04pm, the plane crashed, killing 21 people on board and a further two later in hospital.

Soccer stars, journalists and civilians were thrust into a chaotic scene but the Lukic family have finally got to pay thanks to the man they have thought of as a saviour for the past 50 years.

Zoran, the unborn child of Vera, thanks Northern Ireland legend and Manchester United goalkeeper Harry Gregg for his life and that of his mother and sister.

He said: "I almost saw Harry in my dreams. In some ways, Harry was always lined with my family for what he did.

"We were trying to forget what had happened but no one ever could.

"My father would have liked to thank Harry for saving his family.

"He wanted to thank him many times but unfortunately he died just before we were able to meet Harry."

Gregg recalls the moment he knew he had to help the family he never met: "Captain James Thain scrambled towards me with a fire extinguisher and shouted, 'Run you stupid b*****d, it's going to explode'."

He added: "Just then I heard an infant cry. I knew I had to look for the child and I was frightened about what I might find.

"But I wanted to do it. I had a child around the same age. I managed to get the mother and child out of a hole."

In the years since the disaster, Gregg has often wanted to travel to Serbia to meet the family but finally made the emotional journey late last year.

He added: "Over a period of time I thought I would work up the courage to go and see them. No one owes me anything. One day you are a hero but the next day you can be a coward." Gregg also revealed a chilling conversation on board the tragic flight just minutes before disaster struck.

Worried about the snow as the plane started to move, he recalled the conversation between team-mates Johnny Berry, who survived, and Ireland star Liam Whelan, who perished.

He said: "When we started to go I remember being a bit worried. I wasn't panicking but I was worried.

"I clearly remember Johnny Berry saying, 'We're all going to get killed here'.

"But in reply, Liam Whelan said, 'If it happens, I'm ready'.

"At that point I was looking out and then came the moment that would change everything."

Despite the carnage inside the plane, he still didn't allow himself to believe any of his pals were dead.

It wasn't until he got to hospital that the enormity of the disaster struck home and he knew the face of Manchester United and British football had changed forever.

He explained: "As I was looking out of the window I could clearly see the undercarriage coming up and I thought we were okay. Then there was a tearing noise and it was pitch black. Then it lit up again with sparks.

"I thought I was in hell. Then I felt blood running down my face. I thought my head was off. I was scared to move my hand up in case it was off like the top of a hardboiled egg.

"Part of the roof was off and I could see there was a compound and it was exploding and I remember the fire shooting 60, maybe 70ft in the air. It was then I found the boss Sir Matt Busby.

He was propped up with a tiny cut behind his right ear.

"He was rubbing his chest but I could see his leg was pointing the wrong way.

Then I could see Jackie Blanchflower and he thought he had a broken back.

"But lying across him was Roger Byrne.

"Afterwards Bill Foulkes and I were sitting with blankets around us in the hospital when I heard the intercom.

"Herr Swift kaput! I was upset about what I'd seen but then I knew Frank Swift had died and I just wanted out.

"Then I remember the professor going to different beds like Duncan Edwards saying, 'Strong man, 50/50' to everyone.

Then he got to Johnny Berry and said, 'I'm not God' but he lived. We faced Sheffield Wednesday in the FA Cup 13 days later and the team was unrecognisable.

But against all the odds we won and went on to the final.

"Normally there would be champagne and laughter but for myself and Bill Foulkes, I remember our eyes looked empty in photographs.

"No sports psychologist could have done anything with me at that time.

"But football saved whatever sanity I ever had - and more than once." Four months later, Gregg was heading for the World Cup with Northern Ireland but it was a lonely journey by land. He added: "The squad flew to Sweden but there was no way I was ready to fly. I was supposed to be on a third-class carriage on the train but when I got there it was full of people and I remember having to sit on my suitcase in a corridor." It was perhaps even more fitting that he ability was shown in the proper light at Sweden '58 as he was named the Best Goalkeeper in the World as Northern Ireland reached the quarter-finals.