Roger Williamson Fatal Crash.

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Uploaded by on Jul 24, 2007

More info about Roger Williamson:
http://www.asag.sk/bio/williamson.htm

About the accident:
GP Holland 1973.

Roger Williamson crashes hard on lap 8, roll his car and catches fire. Only yards away stood a fire tender, but no order was given to stop the race and its driver refused, perhaps rightly, to drive against the direction of the traffic. Worse, marshals with fire extinguishers merely watched as Purley fought a lone battle to right the upturned March. He could hear Williamson inside it. Roger pleaded with him to get him out. Time and again Purley tried to lift the car, but each time he failed. For two laps - at least 2m 47s -the fire was minimal, but then it grew dramatically in intensity. David tried to fight it after grabbing an extinguisher from one marshal, but by then the fire had too strong a hold. As the marshals still remained immobile, appalled spectators began to try and help, unable to believe what they were seeing. Only then were marshals with police dogs galvanized into action, to keep them back. Finally, in the most callous act of cowardice ever seen in motor racing, they moved at last and tried to drag the desolate Purley away. He shrugged them off angrily. Roger was uninjured in the cockpit, but they left him to die of asphyxiation. When they finally arrived, the fire trucks were far, far too late. David Purley : Through his tears he said, "I just couldn't turn it over. I could see he was alive and I could hear him shouting, but I couldn't get the car over. I was trying to get people to help me, and if I could have turned the car over he would have been alright, we could have got him out." Later, when the immediate grief had receded, he admitted, "I didn't even think about the heroism or any of that rubbish. I just did what comes naturally to a trained soldier who sees a fellow in trouble." Ian Philips - journalist and friend : "Purley actually had a conversation with him. David was trying to turn him over and told me afterwards how Roger had said to him, For God's sake, David, get me out of here', and he just couldn't get him out. The circumstances were just appalling. David Purley was later awared the British Imperial George Medal, the second highest (highest being the George Cross) medal that can ever be awarded to a civilian for bravery.

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Top Comments

  • Why the FUCK didn't those people help him?!

    I would had helped him flip the car asap.

    Just standing there like idiots . . .

    I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I were them.

  • Name of the song is Nice_E By Duncan Beattie, thumbs up..

    RiP...

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All Comments (3,590)

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  • Honestly, coward people I feel sorry for this man.. I would be living with anger through out my life after this event...

  • David Purley is one of the only human race drivers in the world, watch all the others go racing past, they couldn't care less about him, im surpised that they havn't all killed themselfs with the shame and the regret, I certainly would have helped. David Purely, you will allwas be a hero and an all round amazing person, those stewars are absoulute imbosiles, they pushed you away even though you were the only one doing aything, and then they just practically stood there watching him die R.I.P, RW

  • @SoderberGMusic They are wearing suits with ties. A magnesium bodied car with rubber on fire and high octane fuel burning is pretty hot.

    Purleys interview the next day (video on yt) he said he under stands they were helpless as he was the only one wearing a racing suit.

    They only way the pits found out about the crash was from the smoke plume unfortunately.

  • david purgley was the most kindest and the most amazing person ever. those dick heads did nothing. what is wrong with them. someone is dying and you just watch someone trying to save his life and then taking him off the scene and letting him die,who the hell does that. i would comit suicide because i wouldn't be able to life with myself. R.I.P for Roger Williamson. After seeing this video i had a 5 min silence. i had never seen something so heartbreaking. i almost cried. R.I.P.

  • Despite the risks you should do anything you can to save someones life.

  • Unbelievable the marshal's just stood there while a man burnt alive. David Purley was a hero... even though his actions where in vain. I do not care if they where not trained or under equiped they still could have pushed the car back on its tyers and gave him a chance to escape.

  • @SoderberGMusic wanted to help but the police officers who were on one side of the track were not allowed to pass, used dogs to scare

  • damn i wish that i could put those people in the fire with roger so that could see what it would feel like ): David your a true man in this place .

  • Rest in peace!. R.W. POLAND

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