An off-duty firefighter heroically managed to rescue injured children after a coach returning from a school trip crashed, it has emerged. One child died at the scene and several people were taken to hospital with serious injuries after the coach carrying between 60 and 70 people slid down a 20ft bank in Somerset.
The off-duty firefighter was behind the coach as it left the A396 at Cutcombe Hill at around 3.15pm on Thursday. At a press conference, Gavin Ellis of Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service said the firefighter, who has not been named, was “able to start taking immediate [action] to start releasing those casualties from the bus”. He added he was “grateful” for their actions.
“This was a very complex and technically difficult incident for our crews to deal with, and I’m grateful for the tireless effort and actions of the crews in doing everything they could for those who were trapped and as quickly as safely as possible,” Mr Ellis also said.
The coach was travelling to Minehead Middle School after a visit to Exmoor Zoo.
The school, which is for pupils aged between nine and 14, is five days away from the end of term and will reportedly be closed on Friday.
Staff and pupils were among 21 people taken to hospital for treatment, including several who suffered serious injuries.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said “there are no adequate words to acknowledge the death of a child”.
“A heartbreaking update on the school bus crash in Somerset,” he said in a statement on X on Thursday evening.
“All my thoughts are with their parents, family and friends, and all those affected.
“Thank you to the emergency workers who are responding at pace — I’m being kept up to date on this situation.”
Beacon Education Multi-Academy Trust, which runs Minehead Middle School, confirmed one of its pupils had died in the incident.
It said a number of others were taken to hospital, some with serious injuries, including two children who were taken by air ambulance.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the family, friends, and all those affected by this terrible accident,” the academy trust said.
“Our entire school community are devastated by this news, and we will do everything we can to support everyone affected.”
One local resident who lives near the crash scene described the incident as “horrendous”.
“There are no barriers along there or anything,” said the resident who asked not to be named. “We’re used to it, you don’t even notice it.
“I can’t believe it happened, quite honestly, it’s the biggest thing I have known to go over the slope.
“It’s horrendous, and I’m just so sorry for all those kids on that coach.”
Local MP Rachel Gilmour told BBC Breakfast the crash was “tragic” and she is “heartbroken for the parents and the school and the wider family”.
She also paid tribute to the emergency services.
Local coach operator Ridlers, which owns the bus, said it had been liaising with the school and the emergency services and confirmed the 70-seater vehicle was travelling back from Exmoor Zoo.