Latest news with #WheddonCross
BBC News
12 hours ago
- BBC News
Somerset coach crash: Locals praised for 'amazing' response
A man who has raised £30,000 so far for victims of a fatal coach crash has said he has been "overwhelmed" by the response of the local community. Bobbie Rammond said residents had been "amazing" after a coach carrying pupils from Minehead Middle School in Somerset came off the road on 17 July, flipping onto its roof and sliding down a 20ft slope near the village of Wheddon Cross. A 10-year-old boy was killed, while two children and two adults – one of whom was the driver – remain in hospital in Bristol and community fundraisers set up in response have collectively raised more than £50,000 for the victims and their families. Minehead Middle School has reopened for the final days of term before the summer holidays – with support on hand for Rammond said that there had been a "dark cloud looming" over the area since the crash and that a strong "emotional attachment" to the local community inspired him to said he would be working with Somerset Community Foundation to help distribute the funds. Somerset Community Foundation has launched its own appeal following the crash near Wheddon Cross in said its Together for West Somerset campaign will support those experiencing psychological distress, hardship or injury as a result of the foundation's CEO, Justin Sargent, said the donations would allow it to "move really quickly" to start helping families in the coming days. The road remains closed and a police investigation into the cause of the crash is operation to remove the coach was completed on Saturday.
BBC News
2 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Jockey 'couldn't sleep' after Minehead school coach crash
A former professional jockey who helped teachers and pupils involved in a coach crash says he "couldn't sleep" after what he had Jones said he had transported passengers to safety on his quad bike after the coach being used for a Minehead Middle School trip crashed near Wheddon Cross in Somerset on Thursday.A 10-year-old boy died after the coach left the A396 at Cutcombe Hill and slid down a 20ft slope during the return journey from Exmoor Zoo. Six children and three adults remain in hospital."They're just so innocent and it wasn't their fault. It was a sorry sight," Mr Jones said. The 64-year-old, who now works as a trainer, said he had taken eight adults and children to the Rest and Be Thankful Inn in Wheddon Cross, which was set up as a safe hub after the crash. 'Crying and upset' Mr Jones said he had used his quad bike to get to Cutcombe Hill via said the crash site was in "the most remote place" and he thought it "would have been wrong not to try and help".He described how he had first picked up two teachers on the side of the road, then saw a group of children and one adult who were trying to get to the safe hub."You could see they were injured and crying and upset. It was too far, these were very young middle school children," he said."They'd just been upside down in a bus, over a cliff, all the windows had broken in the bus, and they'd scrambled out and been helped out by emergency services."I presume some of them were told to make their way up but they just couldn't walk up." When Mr Jones got further up the road, ambulances picked up the two teachers he was transporting and he returned to help another teacher and said: "They were in shock. They didn't really say a lot."One teacher said: 'I'm never going back on a bus or coach ever again'."Fundraisers set up for affected families have raised tens of thousands of have been left at Minehead Middle School, which remained closed on Friday.
The Independent
3 days ago
- The Independent
Off-duty firefighter helped save children in bus crash
A school coach carrying pupils from Minehead Middle School crashed on the A936 near Wheddon Cross, Somerset, on Thursday afternoon. The coach, returning from Exmoor Zoo, flipped and slid 20ft down an embankment, resulting in a complex and difficult incident for emergency services. One child tragically died at the scene, while 21 others sustained injuries, with two children airlifted to hospital in serious conditions. An off-duty firefighter, who was travelling behind the coach, was praised for immediately assisting in freeing passengers from the wreckage. Emergency services, including 20 ambulances, three air ambulances, fire crews, and police, responded to the incident, and an investigation into its cause is underway.
The Sun
4 days ago
- General
- The Sun
Girl tells how she couldn't get on school trip bus ‘because it was full' – moments before it crashed killing classmate
A SCHOOLGIRL has told of the miracle moment she was turned away from a packed school coach before it crashed - leaving one child dead and scores hurt. Lucky Emily Manning, 10, climbed on board the 70-seater after an end of term trip to the zoo but was told to get off because it was already full. 7 7 7 She got on the second of the two coaches and arrived home safely. But the first coach veered off the road, flipped onto its roof and careered down a 20ft embankment. She said: "It had been a really nice day at the zoo. I wanted to go on the second coach because that's where my friends were but there were too many people so I got off. "Everybody was in front of me and that meant I couldn't. I was upset because my friends were on that bus but also lucky.' Her dad Nick Manning, 48, a window cleaner from Minehead, said: "I just feel incredibly grateful that she wasn't on it. I got a phone call when I was still at work asking me if I had picked up Emily yet because something terrible had happened. "It's every parent's nightmare, it's absolutely awful. I had constant messages and phone calls checking Emily was ok. People were panicking." The pupils on board, from Minehead Middle School, were returning from Exmoor Zoo when tragedy struck on the A396 near Wheddon Cross in Somerset. A child died in the crash whilst dozens more were hurt. An off-duty firefighter raced to pull injured kids from the wreckage of the school coach crash. The hero was driving behind the 70-seater carrying the nine and 10-year-olds when it veered off the road, flipped onto its roof and careered down a 20ft embankment. The pupils, from Minehead Middle School, were returning from an end of term trip to Exmoor Zoo when tragedy struck on the A396 near Wheddon Cross. The off-duty firefighter pulled over and ran down to the crash site as smoke billowed from the wreckage before forcing his way inside to begin rescuing children one by one. His heroics emerged as parents and pupils arrived at the school to lay flowers. Six other schools in the area closed their gates in a sign of respect as the local community reeled from the tragedy. One parent told how his stepdaughter lost her fingers in the crash. Seven pupils were trapped inside the coach after it overturned before being freed by firefighters who raced to the scene amid a major incident. A fleet of 20 ambulances and three air ambulances were also scrambled as fresh details of the rescue operation emerged. A teacher at the school wrote on Facebook: "My amazing students, I couldn't be prouder of you all and how incredibly brave you've been. "You looked after each other in what was a life-changing event, we will get through this together. I feel so lucky to be your teacher." Rachel Gilmour, MP for Tiverton and Minehead, said: "It's a very difficult road, very steep, very windy, and it's just the nature of rural roads in my constituency. "I'm just deeply grateful to our emergency services and just heartbroken for the parents and the school and the wider family." Cindy Fouracre, whose two grandchildren attend Minehead Middle School, told BBC Radio Somerset: "Your heart goes out to all the families, the coach driver, everybody, because you just don't expect things like this to happen, do you? "They go out for a lovely day with the school, they're excited and then this is how it happens at the end of the day." Beacon Education Multi-Academy Trust, which runs Minehead Middle School, said: "Our thoughts and prayers are with the family, friends, and all those affected by this terrible accident. "Our entire school community are devastated by this news, and we will do everything we can to support everyone affected." 7 7 7
Telegraph
4 days ago
- Telegraph
Off-duty firefighter saved children seconds after bus crash
An off-duty firefighter pulled schoolchildren from the wreckage of a fatal coach crash. The individual, who has not been named, was travelling behind the 70-seater vehicle when it came off a country road between the villages of Wheddon Cross and Timberscombe in Somerset on Thursday at around 3pm. The coach had been carrying pupils from Minehead Middle School, who are believed to be nine or 10 years old, back to the school following an end-of-term trip to Exmoor Zoo. It is believed to have flipped onto its roof and slid 20ft down a bank. The firefighter is said to have acted immediately to free the children trapped in the wreckage before fire crews and ambulances arrived. One child, a pupil of the school, died in the crash and two were taken to hospital via air ambulance with serious injuries. A total of 21 people – some of whom sustained minor injuries – were taken to hospital, while those who were physically unharmed were transferred to a rest centre. Gavin Ellis of Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service said during a press conference on Thursday morning that he was 'grateful' to the firefighter who 'was able to start taking immediate [action] to start releasing those casualties from the bus'. He said: 'Our crews carried out a number of extrications and rescues in extremely difficult circumstances, and they also supported our ambulance colleagues with casualty treatment. 'This was a very complex and technically difficult incident for our crews to deal with.' The fatality was confirmed at the press conference by Ch Supt Mark Edgington of Avon and Somerset Police. He said: 'We can confirm tonight that one child has sadly died. 'A formal identification process will need to be carried out, but our thoughts and sympathies are with their family, who we are in contact with. 'A specially-trained officer will be providing them with support.' Police attended the scene alongside 20 double-crewed ambulances, three air ambulances, a command team and two hazardous area response teams. A source told The Times that the scene was 'carnage'. They said they saw several children brought into the nearby village with bandaged heads and dried blood down their necks, adding: 'It's so hard to see children in that state.' A resident, who asked not to be named, described the incident as 'horrendous', saying: '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.' Rachel Gilmour, the Liberal Democrat MP for Tiverton and Minehead, told Sky News: 'The road is really windy and there are very steep dips on either side. If the coach went twenty feet off the road, you are on a really steep bank.' Sir Keir Starmer described the update on the coach crash as 'heartbreaking', writing on X: '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.' The Prime Minister also thanked the emergency services, who he said were 'responding at pace'. Minehead Middle School, which caters for pupils aged between nine and 14, is five days away from the end of term. John Bonar, whose son is in the class, told The Telegraph: 'My thoughts are with all the children and all the parents. It is going to be very hard for some people. We are banding together.' Beacon Education Multi-Academy Trust, which runs the school, said: 'We are working closely with the emergency services and relevant authorities following an incident this afternoon to support our pupils, families, and staff at this very difficult time. 'We will update our school community further as soon as more information becomes available, and we kindly ask for your patience and understanding as we manage this evolving situation with care and sensitivity.' A stream of people have begun laying flowers outside the school this morning. Staff from Old Cleeve Pre-School wrote: 'Our thoughts and prayers go out to all those affected by this tragic incident.' Another said: 'Thinking of everyone at this heartbreaking and devastating time. Our community is holding you all tight and surrounding you with love.' The driver of the coach is in a stable condition, the bus company's owner has said. Peter Prior-Sankey, the director of coach operator Ridlers, said: 'Everyone at Ridlers is truly devastated by yesterday's tragic incident and our thoughts and prayers remain with the pupils, their families, and the school. 'Our thanks go to the incredible emergency service teams for their response, and to those across our local hospitals and community who have done so much for those impacted over the last 24 hours. 'I can confirm that the driver is himself in a stable condition in hospital, but with a number of injuries. We are in contact with his wife and family, and have offered ongoing support.' He added that staff at the company are being supported and he and his team are liaising with Somerset Council. Mr Prior-Sankey said a decision had been made not to run any school routes into Minehead today, and that ongoing discussions will be had over the coming days concerning any other affected routes or contracts. People in Minehead have been left devastated by news of the crash, each wondering if children they know were involved. Chrissie, a grandmother of one who runs a garden centre cafe just outside the town, told The Telegraph: 'My business neighbour's daughter is of school age and the first thing I thought yesterday on hearing about the crash was 'is it her?' 'When I saw her little girl this morning, I was so relieved. But I feel for everyone who has children at the school and I can't imagine what the parents of the child who died are going through. It's so horrible, and to think it started as a day out with all the children happy and excited. 'It just breaks your heart to think about what happened.' Councillors and community leaders have taken to the airwaves to assure people that an investigation will be undertaken and assistance offered, both practical and emotional, to anyone who needs it. Reverend Philip Butcher, the vicar of Minehead, said: 'It was absolutely numbing, there are no words to describe what happened yesterday. 'It's an absolute tragedy, and one that's still very much unfolding. We're just standing firm with the school, with the families at this time, just to be with them in this time as a point of support. Rev Butcher said everyone in the community was 'very, very shocked' by what had happened. 'This happened yesterday afternoon, and the horror of it came to light during the evening,' he said. 'This is a big, big, big tragedy, and it will affect people for a long time to come. I know this community is so strong that it will be here in all its forms to support everybody fully as far as they need.'
