Child dies and 21 injured after school coach crash

A child has died and two others have been seriously injured after a coach bringing pupils back from an end-of-term school trip overturned and fell 20ft from a road.

Avon and Somerset Police declared a major incident after the accident at Cutcombe Hill near Wheddon Cross in Somerset at about 15:00 BST.

The coach was carrying about 70 people, many of them pupils from Minehead Middle School, with 21 passengers in total taken to hospital.

Ch Supt Mark Edgington said: "Today's events are truly tragic. We know the community will be utterly devastated by this news."

Prime Minister Sir Kier Starmer said on X: "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."

In a joint press conference involving police, the fire service and ambulance service held at Bridgwater Police Station at 21:00 BST, journalists were told the coach fell 20ft (six metres) down a slope near Wheddon Cross, and firefighters had to work to free dozens of trapped passengers.

Three air ambulances were sent to the scene, along with more than 20 ambulances.

Wayne Darch, Deputy Director of Operations for South West Ambulance Service, said: "Sadly one child was pronounced dead at the scene."

Many passengers either sustained minor injuries or were physically unharmed and were transferred to a rest centre, police added.

An off-duty firefighter who was travelling behind the coach was able to help the passengers before the emergency services arrived.

Gavin Ellis of Devon and Somerset Fire & Rescue Service told the assembled media: "Our crews carried out a number of extrications and rescues in extremely difficult circumstances, and they also supported our ambulance colleagues with casualty treatment."

Police said the large majority of passengers were taken to a rest centre in Wheddon Cross and that the authorities were working with Minehead Middle School, where officers have been posted, to help return them at the earliest opportunity.

Avon and Somerset Police said an investigation into the cause of the crash will take place and they have urged witnesses to come forward.

A spokesperson for Beacon Education, which the school is a part of, said: "Our entire school community are devastated by this news, and we will do everything we can to support everyone affected.

"We are working closely with the emergency services and relevant authorities, and we will support our pupils, staff, and families at this incredibly difficult time," they added.

Peter Prior-Sankey, director of coach company Ridlers, said their 70-seater vehicle was involved in Thursday's crash.

"We have since been liaising with both the school, and the emergency services, while we try to understand the extent of the incident," he said.

"Our hearts of course go out to the school pupils and to our driver. We will be doing everything possible to understand what has happened."

A resident who lives near the crash scene has described the incident as "horrendous".

They told the BBC: "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."

Local MP Rachel Gilmour said in a statement: "It's just unimaginable. You wave your children off, on an end of term school trip and then this happens.

"I visited Minehead Middles School about six weeks ago. It's a fantastic, loving kind school, with enthusiastic and confident children. I just know that our community will pull together."