There was a recent TV series on Sky Atlantic featuring Colin Firth that covers the events of the Lockerbie Bombing and the subsequent events following the disaster.

Links and Info

• Medic One website. There is a "Donate" link as well on the page, its a great cause to support - https://www.edinburghemergencymedicine.com/medic1-about

• "Lockerbie: A Search For Truth (Sky Atlantic) - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt31029686/

• PanAm 103 Lockerbie Legacy Foundation - https://www.pa103ll.org/

Episode Overview

Few events in modern history have left such an indelible mark on our collective consciousness as the Lockerbie bombing of December 21, 1988. While most of us remember the headlines, the true stories of those who responded to the disaster often remain untold. Tony Bonner was one of those first responders, a trauma nurse with Scotland's legendary Medic One rapid response unit, who found himself racing toward an unimaginable scene on that cold winter night.

Tony's journey to becoming a trauma nurse was anything but conventional. His early years were shaped by an unexpected trajectory – being sent to seminary school at age 11 to train for priesthood. By 15, he had become what he describes as an "evangelical atheist," continuing the charade for his family's sake before eventually finding his way into psychiatric nursing almost by accident. This unconventional background perhaps prepared him for the unpredictable nature of emergency medicine, where no two days are ever the same and where one must face the unexpected with composure and skill.

The night of December 21st began as an ordinary shift in Edinburgh's emergency department. Tony had a bunch of flowers ready for his wife Irene's birthday, sitting in a sink at the back of the department. The mundane was about to give way to the extraordinary when a colleague called with news that a jumbo jet had crashed in the Scottish borders. Initially skeptical, Tony passed this information to his superior, Dr. Keith Little. What happened next would be etched in their memories forever – the red emergency phone, which had never rung before, suddenly came to life. The police were requesting Medic One's immediate mobilization to Lockerbie.

The response was swift but fraught with challenges. The team split into two groups – one traveling by helicopter despite the treacherous weather, and Tony's group racing down motorways in a police Range Rover at speeds exceeding 100 miles per hour. The journey itself was terrifying, not just because of the breakneck speed but because of the uncertainty of what awaited them. As trauma professionals, they were accustomed to saving lives, but none had faced anything of this magnitude before. Their consultant, Colin Robertson, wisely focused them on the basics of resuscitation – reminding them that in chaos, returning to fundamentals was essential.

As they approached Lockerbie, the apocalyptic scene began to unfold. Fires burned visibly from miles away. Upon arrival, they encountered a landscape transformed by destruction – a massive crater where houses once stood, fires consuming everything in their path, the smell of jet fuel running down gutters, and debris scattered everywhere. It was, as Tony describes it, "almost apocalyptic... something I actually couldn't have imagined."

In the midst of this chaos, the team followed a local GP who had spotted debris on Tundergarth Hill. Driving up a narrow road to investigate, they made a surreal discovery that encapsulates the jarring juxtaposition of the disaster – the cockpit of a jumbo jet lying in a field among grazing sheep, illuminated by their vehicle's headlights. This powerful image – the ultimate symbol of modern technology violently inserted into a peaceful pastoral setting – represents the sudden collision of ordinary life with extraordinary tragedy.

Tony's account offers us a rare glimpse into the human experience behind disaster response. Beyond the clinical aspects of emergency medicine, we see the very real fear, doubt, and determination that courses through those tasked with responding to unimaginable situations. His story reminds us that behind every major disaster are individuals who, despite their own terror, step forward when others cannot.

In recounting these events decades later, Tony provides not just a historical record, but a testament to human resilience and the capacity to function under the most extreme circumstances. His story continues to resonate, reminding us of both the fragility of life and the extraordinary strength that ordinary people can summon when faced with unprecedented challenges.