A baggage handler who attracted worldwide fame after tackling one of the suspected Glasgow Airport terrorists returned to work yesterday for the first time since the incident.
John Smeaton helped staff and police overpower an attacker who drove a Jeep into the airport terminal building on June 30. He was interviewed just after the incident and his comments about his deeds were broadcast around the world, quickly elevating him to cult status.
The 31-year-old, from Erskine, Renfrewshire, made a low-key return to work yesterday at 2pm and after a meeting with managers resumed supervising the loading of bags. He said he has got used to more attention from members of the public, with people taking his photo yesterday afternoon.
He said: "People notice me now but I'm just the same John, I'm just bog-standard run-of-the-mill John. I know certain things have changed but I'm not going to let it change me. It is really good to be back at work, good to see the boys again."
Mr Smeaton said he spent the past four weeks "de-stressing" to recover from the traumatic experience. I was quite stressed out for the first couple of weeks, but my friends have helped me recover and keep my feet on the ground," he said.
"I have been going fishing and my friends have been looking after me, taking me out for the occasional meal. I've got rid of the bad memories. I had them for a couple of weeks but they disappeared. You've just got to get on with your life and you cannot let it affect you. If you let it affect you then they win."
After the attack, a website was set up in Mr Smeaton's honour and fans pledged to buy him a pint as a reward for his bravery. He later announced he would give £2100 of the money raised to military veterans' charity Erskine while he would use the rest to fund a night out for those who were present at the Glasgow Airport incident.
His unexpected fame has also brought him the chance to mingle with stars. On Saturday he was given a hero's welcome when he watched his favourite team Rangers play Chelsea in a friendly match at Ibrox. He was introduced to the crowd from the pitch before the match.
Mr Smeaton said: "That was the best experience of my life. It was fantastic and I cannot thank Rangers enough.
"They asked me to go out on the pitch - that's the highest honour I have ever had." Along with other members of the public who helped police officers during the failed car bomb attack on Glasgow Airport, he is to be recognised by the Scottish Parliament at an official reception next month, hosted by the First Minister.
Mr Smeaton's return to work came on the same day an Indian doctor freed from jail in Australia when terror charges against him were dropped for lack of evidence said he wanted to go back to work in Australia. The jailing of Mohamed Dr Haneef, 27, aroused waves of sympathy in his native India where he was greeted with a hero's welcome upon his return 24 hours earlier.
Dr Haneef met the chief minister of the Karnataka state, who offered him a job in a state-run hospital. However, Dr Haneef, speaking at his first media conference since his release, indicated he preferred to return to his work at Australia's Gold Coast Hospital. The hospital said his job was waiting for him if he regained his visa.
The doctor was allowed to return home after Australia's top prosecutor on Friday dropped the charge because of a lack of evidence.
Dr Bilal Abdullah, arrested at Glasgow Airport, has been charged with conspiracy to cause explosions. Kafeel Ahmed, who was detained at the airport, remains under armed guard at Glasgow Royal Infirmary.
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