By Tony Winterburn • Published: 17 Feb 2020 • 9:13
Ex Manchester United Player Harry Gregg passed away peacefully in hospital surrounded by his family
Harry Gregg, former Manchester United goalkeeper who was hailed a hero for bravely rescuing teammates and other passengers in the 1958 Munich air disaster, has died aged 87.
The Old Trafford legend, who also starred for Northern Ireland at the 1958 World Cup, passed away “peacefully in hospital surrounded by his loving family”. The Munich Air Disaster hero saved the lives of Bobby Charlton and Denis Viollet, amongst others, as he pulled them from the burning wreckage.
Harry was travelling back from a European Cup game in 1958 with the rest of the ‘Busby Babes’ when the airplane they were travelling crashed after failing to take off on the slush-covered runway at Munich-Riem Airport.
He was hailed the hero of the tragedy after he escaped and 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. Charlton said later 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.
Harry 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 also 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.
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