Latest news with #GavinEllis
Sky News
3 days ago
- General
- Sky News
Child who died in Minehead school coach crash was 10-year-old boy, police say
The child who died in a school coach crash in Somerset on Thursday was a 10-year-old boy, Avon and Somerset Police have said. A specially trained officer is supporting the child's family, the force said, adding that two children taken to Bristol Royal Hospital for Children by air ambulance remain there as of Friday. Four children and three adults also remain in hospital in Somerset. There were between 60 to 70 people on board when the incident happened near Minehead, just before 3pm on Thursday. The coach was heading to Minehead Middle School when it crashed on the A396 between Wheddon Cross and Timbercombe. Police said that 21 people were taken to hospital, including two children who were taken via air ambulance. Gavin Ellis, chief fire officer for Devon and Somerset, said the coach "overturned onto its roof and slid approximately 20ft down an embankment". Rachel Gilmour, MP for Tiverton and Minehead, said the road where it happened is "very difficult to manoeuvre". "You have a very difficult crossing at Wheddon Cross, and as you come out to dip down into Timbercombe, the road is really windy and there are very steep dips on either side," she told Sky's Anna Botting.
The Independent
3 days ago
- General
- The Independent
Off-duty firefighter travelling behind horrific coach crash is praised for stepping in and saving children
An off-duty firefighter who was travelling behind a Somerset school coach when it flipped and slid down a 20ft ditch has been praised for stepping in to save the lives of children. Pupils from Minehead Middle School, believed to be aged nine and ten, were on the 70-seater coach travelling back from Exmoor Zoo when it crashed on the A936 near Wheddon Cross on Thursday afternoon. One child died at the scene, while 21 others were injured. Two children were airlifted to hospital with serious injuries. During a press conference yesterday evening, it emerged that an off-duty firefighter who was travelling behind the coach was able to start freeing passengers immediately. Gavin Ellis of Devon and Somerset Fire & Rescue Service praised the firefighter and said: 'I'm also grateful to the off-duty firefighter who was traveling behind the coach at the point of the crash who was able to start to release those casualties from the bus.' He added: 'We were mobilised to a major incident of a coach that had overturned onto its roof and slid approximately 20ft down the embankment.' 'Our crews carried out a number of extrications and rescues in extremely difficult circumstances, and they also supported our ambulance colleagues with casualty treatment,' he added. '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.' A resident who lives near the site of a school coach crash near Minehead, Somerset, has described the incident as horrendous. The person, who did not wish to be named, said: 'The coach has gone down the slope. It's pretty steep around here and it's a big coach. 'There are no barriers along there or anything. '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.' Speaking outside Bridgwater Police Centre, Chief Superintendent Mark Edgington said: 'A number of other people have presented or been taken to hospital, some with serious injuries. 'This includes two children who were taken to hospital by air ambulance, many passengers either sustained minor injuries or were physically unharmed and were transferred to a rest centre. 'Work to help them return to Minehead has been taking place throughout the evening. An investigation into the cause of this incident will be carried out.'
The Irish Sun
3 days ago
- General
- The Irish Sun
Hero off-duty firefighter rushed to save kids when school trip bus overturned leaving 2 dead & 21 injured
A HEROIC off-duty firefighter who was driving behind a school bus that tragically crashed yesterday immediately rushed to help. One child sadly died and two others were rushed to hospital after the coach veered off the road and slid down a 20ft bank. 7 Emergency crews rescued passengers from the bus following a crash Credit: SWNS 7 A large section of the A396 in Somerset was closed off while teams dealt with the scene Credit: BPM Media 7 Five helicopters were deployed to help the major rescue operation Credit: SWNS 7 Some 21 casualties were taken to hospital by land and air after the accident. The bus came off the A396 between Wheddon Cross and Timbercombe in Somerset shortly before 3pm yesterday. Emergency crews worked tirelessly to rescue trapped passengers. It later emerged that a heroic off-duty firefighter was travelling behind the coach and was able to start freeing passengers straight away. Gavin Ellis, Chief Fire Officer for Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service, said: "We were mobilised to a major incident to a coach that had overturned onto its roof and slip approximately 20ft (6.1m) down an embankment. "I'm grateful to the off-duty firefighter who was travelling behind the coach at the point of the collision who was able to start taking immediate [action] to start releasing those casualties from the bus." He added: "Our crews carried out a number of extrications and rescues in extremely difficult circumstances, and he also supported our ambulance colleagues with casualty treatment. "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 as quickly as safely as possible." Most read in The Sun Two people were left seriously injured following the crash, which saw the coach filled with pupils from Minehead Middle School leave the road. It is thought that the year five pupils were returning from a trip to Exmoor Zoo in nearby Devon. Minehead Middle School's website states that pupils in that year group (aged nine to 10) were due to visit the zoo as part of the school's "Enrichment Week" activities. Three helicopters, deployed by Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance and Devon Air Ambulance, joined police air crews. Some casualties were then taken by air ambulance to hospital in Bristol. Gavin Ellis, the chief fire officer for Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service, said the coach "overturned onto its roof and slid approximately 20ft down an embankment". In a press conference outside Minehead Middle School, cops confirmed that they were called at 2.58pm to the "very complex and technically difficult scene". Parents - who had been summoned to the school by police - were seen visibly upset as they waited outside the building. Police confirmed that 21 casualties had been rushed to hospital, although the "large majority of passengers" were taken to a rest centre in Wheddon Cross. Eight fire engines, two specialist rescue appliances and around 60 firefighters were deployed to the scene. South Western Ambulance Service deployed 20 double crewed ambulances, three air ambulances, a command team and two hazardous area response teams. Cops estimate around 60 to 70 people were onboard the coach when it left the road. Prime Minister Keir Starmer paid tribute after the tragic death of the child, saying: "A heartbreaking update on the school bus crash in Somerset. "There are no adequate words to acknowledge the death of a child. Read more on the Irish Sun "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." 7 Police on guard outside Minehead Middle School Credit: SWNS 7 Emergency crews have been spotted around the scene of the crash Credit: SWNS 7 The road remains closed after 21 casualties were rushed to hospital Credit: SWNS
Scottish Sun
3 days ago
- General
- Scottish Sun
Hero off-duty firefighter rushed to save kids when school trip bus overturned leaving 2 dead & 21 injured
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A HEROIC off-duty firefighter who was driving behind a school bus that tragically crashed yesterday immediately rushed to help. One child sadly died and two others were rushed to hospital after the coach veered off the road and slid down a 20ft bank. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 7 Emergency crews rescued passengers from the bus following a crash Credit: SWNS 7 A large section of the A396 in Somerset was closed off while teams dealt with the scene Credit: BPM Media 7 Five helicopters were deployed to help the major rescue operation Credit: SWNS 7 Some 21 casualties were taken to hospital by land and air after the accident. The bus came off the A396 between Wheddon Cross and Timbercombe in Somerset shortly before 3pm yesterday. Emergency crews worked tirelessly to rescue trapped passengers. It later emerged that a heroic off-duty firefighter was travelling behind the coach and was able to start freeing passengers straight away. Gavin Ellis, Chief Fire Officer for Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service, said: "We were mobilised to a major incident to a coach that had overturned onto its roof and slip approximately 20ft (6.1m) down an embankment. "I'm grateful to the off-duty firefighter who was travelling behind the coach at the point of the collision who was able to start taking immediate [action] to start releasing those casualties from the bus." He added: "Our crews carried out a number of extrications and rescues in extremely difficult circumstances, and he also supported our ambulance colleagues with casualty treatment. "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 as quickly as safely as possible." Two people were left seriously injured following the crash, which saw the coach filled with pupils from Minehead Middle School leave the road. It is thought that the year five pupils were returning from a trip to Exmoor Zoo in nearby Devon. Minehead Middle School's website states that pupils in that year group (aged nine to 10) were due to visit the zoo as part of the school's "Enrichment Week" activities. Three helicopters, deployed by Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance and Devon Air Ambulance, joined police air crews. Some casualties were then taken by air ambulance to hospital in Bristol. Gavin Ellis, the chief fire officer for Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service, said the coach "overturned onto its roof and slid approximately 20ft down an embankment". In a press conference outside Minehead Middle School, cops confirmed that they were called at 2.58pm to the "very complex and technically difficult scene". Parents - who had been summoned to the school by police - were seen visibly upset as they waited outside the building. Police confirmed that 21 casualties had been rushed to hospital, although the "large majority of passengers" were taken to a rest centre in Wheddon Cross. Eight fire engines, two specialist rescue appliances and around 60 firefighters were deployed to the scene. South Western Ambulance Service deployed 20 double crewed ambulances, three air ambulances, a command team and two hazardous area response teams. Cops estimate around 60 to 70 people were onboard the coach when it left the road. Prime Minister Keir Starmer paid tribute after the tragic death of the child, saying: "A heartbreaking update on the school bus crash in Somerset. "There are no adequate words to acknowledge the death of a child. "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." 7 Police on guard outside Minehead Middle School Credit: SWNS 7 Emergency crews have been spotted around the scene of the crash Credit: SWNS
The Sun
3 days ago
- General
- The Sun
Hero off-duty firefighter rushed to save kids when school trip bus overturned leaving 1 dead & 21 injured
A HEROIC off-duty firefighter who was driving behind a school bus that tragically crashed yesterday immediately rushed to help. One child sadly died and two others were rushed to hospital after the coach veered off the road and slid down a 20ft bank. 6 6 Some 21 casualties were taken to hospital by land and air after the accident. The bus came off the A396 between Wheddon Cross and Timbercombe in Somerset shortly before 3pm yesterday. Emergency crews worked tirelessly to rescue trapped passengers. It later emerged that a heroic off-duty firefighter was travelling behind the coach and was able to start freeing passengers straight away. Gavin Ellis, Chief Fire Officer for Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service, said: "We were mobilised to a major incident to a coach that had overturned onto its roof and slip approximately 20ft (6.1m) down an embankment. "I'm grateful to the off-duty firefighter who was travelling behind the coach at the point of the collision who was able to start taking immediate [action] to start releasing those casualties from the bus." He added: "Our crews carried out a number of extrications and rescues in extremely difficult circumstances, and he also supported our ambulance colleagues with casualty treatment. "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 as quickly as safely as possible." Two people were left seriously injured following the crash, which saw the coach filled with pupils from Minehead Middle School leave the road. It is thought that the year five pupils were returning from a trip to Exmoor Zoo in nearby Devon. Minehead Middle School's website states that pupils in that year group (aged nine to 10) were due to visit the zoo as part of the school's "Enrichment Week" activities. Three helicopters, deployed by Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance and Devon Air Ambulance, joined police air crews. Some casualties were then taken by air ambulance to hospital in Bristol. Gavin Ellis, the chief fire officer for Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service, said the coach "overturned onto its roof and slid approximately 20ft down an embankment". In a press conference outside Minehead Middle School, cops confirmed that they were called at 2.58pm to the "very complex and technically difficult scene". Parents - who had been summoned to the school by police - were seen visibly upset as they waited outside the building. Police confirmed that 21 casualties had been rushed to hospital, although the "large majority of passengers" were taken to a rest centre in Wheddon Cross. Eight fire engines, two specialist rescue appliances and around 60 firefighters were deployed to the scene. South Western Ambulance Service deployed 20 double crewed ambulances, three air ambulances, a command team and two hazardous area response teams. Cops estimate around 60 to 70 people were onboard the coach when it left the road. Prime Minister Keir Starmer paid tribute after the tragic death of the child, saying: "A heartbreaking update on the school bus crash in Somerset. "There are no adequate words to acknowledge the death of a child. "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." 6 6 6
