Child dies after school coach overturns on way home from trip to zoo

Police say a child died and 21 people were taken to hospital after a school coach crash in Minehead. The coach carrying more than 60 pupils and staff was returning from a day trip out at the zoo.

Police said they were alerted to the crash at around 3.15pm on Thursday afternoon on the A396 in Somerset. The coach was on its ways back to Minehead Middle School. A police press conference was told the coach slid 20ft down a bank after it flipped onto its roof.

Avon and Somerset Police declared it a major incident, which has since been stood down. A spokesperson for the force said: "We understand the coach was carrying approximately 60-70 people and was heading to Minehead Middle School at the time.We can confirm a number of casualties have been conveyed to hospital.

An off-duty firefighter travelling behind the coach was able to start freeing passengers immediately, Gavin Ellis of Devon and Somerset Fire & Rescue Service said.

Wayne Darch, deputy director of operations for the South Western Ambulance Service said: "We sent 46 resources to the scene, including 20 double-crewed ambulances, three air ambulances, a command team and two hazardous area response teams. We treated several patients at the scene and conveyed 21 patients to hospital via land and by air."

The road remains closed with drivers advised to avoid the area.

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