British backpacker hailed as hero of Sunday's air crash

Peter Hill, 35, was in seat 24a, next to an emergency exit, when the holiday jet slewed off the runway at Phuket airport and burst into flames, killing 88 people on Saturday.

He was alongside fellow UK traveller Ashley Scott Harrow and managed to haul him clear. Ashley, 27, of Craigavon, Northern Ireland, escaped with cuts and burns.

Then Peter forced his way back through acrid, black smoke and rescued two Israelis — Vladimir Freylikham, 28, and his wife Isabella, 29.

Peter, from Manchester, and Ashley were two of at least five people from the UK among 42 people who survived when the One-Two-GO budget airline jet from Bangkok to Phuket crashed in a monsoon.

Thai Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont and Foreign Minister Nitya Pibulsonggram visited Peter on Monday in hospital, where he was being treated for burns and a head injury.

Nitya Pibulsonghram gave him flowers and fruit and said: "He is a hero. He pulled people out at his own risk. He is now doing pretty well, sitting up and smiling."

Peter was still too ill to speak at length about his ordeal.

He said: "I can't really remember. I might have got it open a crack (the emergency exit) but it was Scott (Ashley Scott) who smashed it open."

The other injured Brits were Bethan Jones, 22 — who had 90 per cent burns — Christopher Cooley and Benjamin Green, who is thought to have suffered only superficial wounds.

Alex Collins, 22, of Maesteg, South Wales — boyfriend of Bethan, from Porth, Rhondda — was believed dead.

The Sun quoted UK Ambassador to Thailand Quinton Quayle as saying, "We fear there are several British dead but we can't confirm the number and it may be some time before we can give a figure."