The mother of an Aireborough golfer has spoken of his lucky escape from one of the 'worst crashes this century'.

Jan Allan, of Back Lane, Guiseley, is relieved that her 32-year-old son James and his two Yeadon friends survived the tragic Manchester minibus crash last Thursday in which seven people died.

"They are just so very lucky to survive one of the worst crashes of the century," she said. "They were just sat in the right place if they hadn't it would have been a totally different story.

"They are struggling to come to terms with it."

Senior financial executive James Allan, 31-year-old James Coffey, an accountant, and shop-fitter Darren Auton, 35, were heading for a four-day golfing holiday in Marbella, Spain, when the accident happened.

They were travelling to Manchester Airport when their hotel courtesy minibus was in collision with a car on the M56 at about 5.40am.

The bus's roof and side were ripped off as it bounced off the central reservation, killing the minibus driver, two men, three women and a nine-year-old boy.

The three men walked away with only minor injuries and James pulled a 15-year-old boy, whose both parents and younger brother died in the accident, to safety.

Mrs Allan said her son is not a hero for helping the youngster, he just did what anyone else would have done.

"James was still in the bus when it turned over," she said.

"He was so shocked. He got out of the roof, it had been ripped off. He felt okay and he saw that his friends were moving about and went to see if anyone else needed help.

"He was standing up and his first thought was can I help anyone. Unfortunately there were not many people alive that he could help.

"He saw this young man moving and he went and pulled him out. He didn't know who he was, he asked if he was okay and the boy said that he was. His first thought was where the boy's family was and the poor boy pointed to their bodies

"He didn't know about the boy until he read it in the paper. He helped him out of the bus, he was not heroic, he did what anyone else would have done. The worst thing was that there were not more people he could have helped.

"It was so traumatic they are just trying to get on with things now."

They were taken to Wythenshawe Hospital where they were later discharged.

Darren Auton's mum Edna, of Greenlea Close, Yeadon, said it was lucky that they were sat in the front seat.

"It was devastating for him," she said.

"Two of them were sat on the front seat, Darren was sat next to the driver. His other friend was sat behind them.

"They were the last three to get on the bus, so they had to sit right at the front. That's what saved them.

"When he got back he had to pick all the glass out of his hair and have a shower. He just went straight to bed after it.

"He has a slight cut to his head and ear. He said he would never want to have to see anything like that ever again."

The footballers, who play for Rawdon Old Boys, were due to meet up with their four friends, who they have known since playing for Otley Express junior football team, at the airport.

"They rang their friends on the mobile to tell them they were safe and they should go without them," Mrs Auton added.

"They decided not to follow the others to Marbella. He was able to pick up his case because it was in the middle of the motorway but the police have all their golf clubs."

They are still too upset to talk.

Manager of Hollins Hall Andrew Forrester, where the men are members of the golf club, said: "We are delighted that they were not seriously injured in the accident."

A Greater Manchester Police spokesman believed that the collision occurred between the minibus, which was towing a luggage trailer, and a green Toyota Carina.

Two other cars, a Ford Mondeo and a Vauxhall Vectra, were also involved. No car drivers or passengers were injured.