A GROUP of best pals who met at The Clutha on the last Friday of every month are still haunted by the horrors of the disaster.

One year on, they reflected on how their lives have changed, physically and mentally, and revealed how they are struggling to come to terms with the loss of their friend Joe Cusker, 59, who died 13 days after the police helicopter crashed on to the pub.

They have all been diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder and many of them still have physical scars which are a constant reminder of how close they came to death.

Tenth victim Joe, 59, of Cambuslang, was standing at the bar with his best pals.

The unofficial Clutha drinking club still meet up regularly at the Scotia bar to raise a glass to their late friend.

For almost a decade they had been drinking in The Clutha, always at the same place next to the serving hatch but on the night of the disaster, it was so busy they were forced to stand on the other side of the bar near the door.

If they had been in their usual spot they would have walked out unscathed.

The survivors are extremely lucky to be alive - one of them, Jamie Ward, 58, from Newton Mearns, was standing right next to John McGarrigle, who died after becoming trapped underneath the helicopter.

Jamie suffered a broken back and was in Glasgow's Southern General spinal unit for months. He is still in constant pain, doesn't sleep and is wary of crowds.

But Jamie, Calum Grierson, 60, from Hamilton and John Robson, 63, from Uddingston, were all pulled from the wrecked pub by their pal Alan Torrance, 55, from Hamilton, and they insist he deserves a medal for his bravery along with two mystery first aiders who tended them.

Alan and Ian Kelly, 60, from East Kilbride, were standing chatting near the entrance when they were blown out of the door on to the street by the force of the crash, but despite his own injuries and warnings that the roof was about to cave in, Alan raced back in to rescue his mates.

Mental health hearings clerk and grandad Calum said there was no warning and he remembers waking up in the dust-filled room covered in rubble and looking down at the toes of his shoes.

He added: "The worst point was as I lay there helpless someone shouted 'don't go in, the roof's coming in'. I thought I was a goner.

"I was lying on top of John and Jamie was lying on top of me so we were all jammed together and covered in debris."

Calum was taken to the Western Infirmary with his friends except for Joe who was taken to Glasgow Royal Infirmary.

He was off work for four months after having six staples in his head and sustained serious injuries down the left hand side of his body.

Dad-of-three and grandad Ian suffered injuries to his arm, torn ligaments and deep tissue damage in his leg and he has also been diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder.

He recalled: "I can't believe it's been a year since it happened. Because I got blown out the door, my shoes were blown off, Alan helped me put them back on.

HE went straight back in to look for the rest of the lads.

"We didn't know if it was a bomb or a gas explosion. We looked inside and it was totally black, heavy dust, blackness and silence.

"The whole area we had been standing in was totally devastated."

Danny Docherty, 60, of Maryhill, suffered head injuries and had 12 staples in his head, whiplash and concussion and was found wandering the streets looking for his pals in a dazed and confused state.

He said: "All of a sudden I saw smoke coming towards me out of no-where, I thought it was part of the band's set, then there was a flash and all I remember is getting lifted up off the ground and slammed back down.

"Now I have still not got my head round it that it has actually happened.

"I still find it difficult to believe I was part of that.

"I have always been upbeat but now I enjoy every minute."

Independent financial adviser and dad-of-two John suffered back, shoulder, leg and head injuries after a falling wooden beam slammed into his back.

He said: "I remember lying there thinking 'who would want to bomb The Clutha?'

"Alan played a huge part in getting us out. I was standing talking to Joe when it happened.

"I woke up and noticed the dust and I thought 'I'm alive, I had better get out of here'.

"I'm still at the stage where I can't believe it.

"I have had post traumatic stress therapy and that has helped a bit with the flash-backs but I can't think straight, I can't concentrate."

Aitken Hunter, 62, from Hamilton suffered a cracked spine which has affected his right arm and shoulder but he can't remember a thing about that night.

Because of the nerve damage to his hand he is unable to make a fist and can't drive, swim, work or lift his grandchildren.

He's spending the anniversary in America.

Aitken said: "I am on painkillers all the time, anti-depressants, you name it I'm on it.

"The spine is broken at the back of the neck which means I must have been hit with something but I don't remember anything at all about the night, I only know what other people have told me.

"And I've got this hand as a constant reminder. There is nerve damage so who knows if I'll ever get back to normal.

"I'll be in America on the anniversary. I just wanted to get away from it."

janice.burns@eveningtimes.co.uk