'I just want to let them know he wasn't alone' – nurse sat with dying man after fatal A9 crash
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A nurse who sat by an elderly man killed in a fatal road crash on the A9 on Wednesday said she hopes to give some comfort to his family by letting them know he wasn't alone.
Annette Tracey (67), from the Midlands, was travelling across Scotland with her husband for their anniversary when they reached the surroundings of Newtonmore, not long after the collision.
Following the crash, the traffic had come to a standstill.
"I never witnessed the actual accident," she said.
"The traffic stopped and I could see the gentleman on the side of the road."
Ms Tracey, who has been a nurse for 50 years, said she got off the car to offer assistance.
"Another woman had got out of her car, and said she was a doctor.
"We got blankets from people and I covered the poor man up to give him dignity, and sat with him, although it was clear there was nothing that could be done.
"I sat with him, talking to him until the ambulance and police officers arrived.
"Everyone was on their phone when I arrived to report the incident.
"They took about 10 minutes to arrive."
After the road reopened, the couple decided to stay in the area and continue their journey back home the following day – where they were headed to attend her husband's aunt's funeral.
"I couldn't sleep that night," she said.
Ms Tracey said she hopes that sharing this could help the gentleman's family find some comfort.
"If it helps at all, if the family want to speak to me, that’s fine. I just wanted them to know I was with him until the emergency services arrived."
