A HERO of the Southern Aurora rail disaster, Ballarat man Alan Hyatt, has died aged 88.Mr Hyatt was working as a conductor on the train when the carriage he was in came to rest on top of another, six metres above the ground at Violet Town, in north-east Victoria, in February 1969. Although injured, he helped about 20 passengers escape the burning train, the majority through windows.Mr Hyatt was awarded the British Empire Medal and Oak Leaves for outstanding bravery a year after the disaster.Media interest flowed after his brave actions, but according to his family, Mr Hyatt did not consider himself a hero and rarely spoke to them about the disaster.Spinal injuries from the train crash led to subsequent periods of illness and his early retirement after 40 years with the Victorian Railways.Mr Hyatt died last Wednesday in the arms of his two granddaughters, Beth and Emma Hyatt.Emma yesterday spoke of her "beautiful" grandpa, who she partnered at old time dancing and talked to every day.She said the family would remember him as a deeply kind, thoughtful, generous and humorous man who was "not like any other grandpa".Emma said her grandpa had a big belly laugh that would be hard to forget.Mr Hyatt was also described as an adventurer, having travelled in Australia when he was younger.He served on the Royal Australian Air Force and was recently a member of Probus, St John's Men's Society and Prostate Support Group.He was born as Raymond John Allester Hyatt in Ballarat on November 2, 1921, but he was known as Alan.He married Mabel Hayes (deceased), and had two children, David and John (deceased).Mr Hyatt grew up in Ballarat where he raised his own family.He was a proud man of seven grandchildren and five great grandchildren.A service of thanksgiving for Mr Hyatt will be held at 1pm today at St John's Anglican Church, Armstrong Street North, Soldiers Hill.