Matt Busby fights for his life in an oxygen tent at Munich's Rechts der Isar Hospital.
Remarkably he recovered enough to continue his convalescence in Switzerland where he was accompanied by his wife, Jean. Busby did not return to Manchester until April 18. He made his journey by rail and sea.
In the immediate aftermath of the tragedy, amid the grief, shock, sorrow and pain there was James Patrick Murphy, Busby's assistant and the man who did all in his power to keep the club functioning.
Manchester United owes a great debt of gratitude to Jimmy Murphy, it is thanks to his dogged determination and devotion that the shattered club and community were able to continue.
Bobby Charlton recalls that on a visit to the Rechts der Isar Hospital in Munich Murphy was a tower of strength as he tended to the injured players and relayed to the infirm the scale of the tragedy and the grief being experienced in Manchester.
In Charlton's autobiography he remembers how Murphy's heartening displays of strength were revealed to have been a brave face worn to protect others: 'One day he was discovered in a back corridor of the hospital, sobbing his heart out in pain at the loss of so many young players.'
Murphy implored the survivors to fight through the suffering for the good of the club and the memory of their fallen team-mates. It was Murphy who took charge as Busby fought for life and Murphy who sought to find the players necessary to field a team for the first game after the disaster.
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