A Scot has told how he became a rescuer in a crash during a holiday to Thailand.
Steven Wares’s dream trip with wife Linsay turned to disaster when their train hit a bus full of local factory workers.
Three were killed in the collision – but Mr Wares, 34, was among those to help make sure another 30 casualties escaped.
The crash happened during their holiday last year – and now, Mrs Wares has made her husband a local hero by nominating him for a restaurant chain’s reward scheme.
Mrs Wares, also 34, nominated her husband after he jumped to the rescue and helped the majority of injured people from the bus before the emergency services arrived on the scene.
Mr Wares is originally from Wick. He moved to Aberdeen when he was 14 and now the oil firm maintenance supervisor lives in Oldmeldrum.
The couple had long dreamed of going to Thailand but just three days into their trip in April last year tragedy struck when their train from Bangkok to Kanchanaburi ploughed through a level crossing and smashed into the bus.
It was a scene of devastation but Mr Wares did not hesitate to do what he could to assist the victims.
He said: “It all happened so quickly I didn’t really have time to think.
“At first it wasn’t even obvious we’d hit something as we were right at the back of the train and we didn’t lose momentum. I just made sure Linsay was OK then ran to help. After the initial shock the scene turned to one of chaos and although it was only around 15 minutes before the Emergency Services arrived it seemed a lifetime.
“There was a lot of noise, a lot of screaming and shouting.
“We managed to get most of the injured off the bus to safety but sadly not everyone made it.”
Mrs Wares said: “I am so proud of my husband.
“It’s something neither of us will ever forget but whilst others stood by and took photographs he didn’t think twice. He was the first to help and in my eyes he is an absolute hero.”
After the crash had been cleared, the train passengers were urged to get back onboard.
Mr Wares said: “Once the emergency services arrived and took over and they had spoken to the train driver they made us get back on the train that had crashed. That probably wouldn’t have happened in this country.”
The couple got off at the next stop and spent the remaining 10 days in the resort of Koh Samui.