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The bus with the players minutes after the accident
A real feat was performed by a bus driver who suffered a heart attack, but saved 20 passengers: soccer players and coaches from Petrich’s FC “Belasitsa”.
Nako Velyanov, 67, suffered a heart attack at the wheel of the plane, but managed to divert it into the Trakia highway ditch near Pazardzhik, thus avoiding a great tragedy.
“A tribute to this man, who in the last seconds of his life does not forget his duty to protect the passengers”, “A tribute to the man who with last effort managed to save other lives”, “Uncle Nako, you did a feat” , were part from the comments of the citizens of Petrich, shocked by the tragic incident. “It will take us some time to realize exactly what could have happened and what the magnitude of the tragedy would have been under other circumstances,” said a close friend of Nako Velyanov. The man worked his entire life as a professional driver. He drove trucks, buses, he has a transportation company.
On the way back from Panagyurishte, the bus carrying the Belasitsa team crashed. The cause of the accident, which occurred at km 70 of the Trakia highway, was the driver’s illness. The bus leaves the road, fortunately, maintaining stability, it leans towards the ditch, but without turning. It was later established that the driver suffered a heart attack.
The players and coaches, as well as the accompanying team, were not seriously injured. Also present were representatives of the club’s management, Ivan Zlatinski and Georgi Petrov. The Petrich Municipality immediately sent a second bus from Plovdiv to pick up the men’s team, and around 2.30 the footballers returned to Petrich, greeted by some 30 fans. Mayor Dimitar Bratchkov has been in constant contact with representatives of the team. Upon arrival, the players underwent medical examinations.
OFK Belasitsa hosts FC Oborishte on matchday six of the Southwestern Third League. Petrichani was victorious and added three points to his assets. According to Pazardzhik police spokesman Miroslav Stoyanov, the incident happened around 9pm on Saturday night. Police and ambulance teams arrived at the scene and found that the bus driver had died. In practice, the driver saved the lives of passengers by slowing down and stopping at the curb, police in Pazardzhik said.
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