Man Dies In Manchester Tram Collision

16 December 2011, 14:14 | Updated: 30 March 2016, 13:50

A blind man has died after a collision with a tram in Manchester city centre.

It's understood 33-year-old Gary Thompson became trapped at chest height between the platform and a tram at around 11.07pm on Thursday at St Peter's Square tram stop.

He was released by firefighters but pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics.

The tram service was suspended for several hours while emergency services dealt with the incident.

In a tribute, his mother Corinne, father Eric and brother Karl, said:

"Gary was a son and brother we are all proud of. He overcame his disabilities and lived a fulfilling life, achieving a degree at Bolton University in business management earlier this year.

"Gary enjoyed writing poetry and had a number of poems published.

“He did a lot of work for the community, including volunteering at the Imperial War Museum North as a guide.

"The family have suffered a tragic loss due to unavoidable circumstances. We thank the emergency service personnel who attended what must have been a very difficult incident to deal with.

"Gary had a wide circle of friends from a wide cross-section of the community and had a good sense of values and humour."