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| Australian tourists injured in fatal bus crash in Vanuatu | Australian tourists injured in fatal bus crash in Vanuatu |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Brisbane hospitals are on standby to receive a group of Australian tourists injured in a fatal bus crash in Vanuatu. | Brisbane hospitals are on standby to receive a group of Australian tourists injured in a fatal bus crash in Vanuatu. |
| P&O says 12 tourists from the Brisbane-based Pacific Dawn cruise ship were hurt in Monday’s crash, which killed two Ni-Vanuatu people. | P&O says 12 tourists from the Brisbane-based Pacific Dawn cruise ship were hurt in Monday’s crash, which killed two Ni-Vanuatu people. |
| Ten of the tourists had serious injuries and three have been airlifted to Noumea where they are receiving specialist care. | Ten of the tourists had serious injuries and three have been airlifted to Noumea where they are receiving specialist care. |
| The airlift was due continue on Tuesday, with some of the other victims to be flown to Brisbane hospitals, a P&O spokesman said. | The airlift was due continue on Tuesday, with some of the other victims to be flown to Brisbane hospitals, a P&O spokesman said. |
| The crash, in the capital Port Vila, involved a local commuter bus and a cruise ship tour bus run by a local operator. | The crash, in the capital Port Vila, involved a local commuter bus and a cruise ship tour bus run by a local operator. |
| “Sadly, two members of the local community have passed away following the accident,” the spokesman said. | “Sadly, two members of the local community have passed away following the accident,” the spokesman said. |
| He would not comment on the likelihood of any fatalities among the injured Australians, but added: “The injuries are significant – the sort of injuries you’d expect in road trauma.” | He would not comment on the likelihood of any fatalities among the injured Australians, but added: “The injuries are significant – the sort of injuries you’d expect in road trauma.” |
| “This was a big event for Port Vila. So we made the decision to airlift them to take the pressure off [local] health services.” | “This was a big event for Port Vila. So we made the decision to airlift them to take the pressure off [local] health services.” |
| Michael Smith, the director of Gold Coast-based Medical Rescue Air Ambulance, said his company was sending two planes to Port Vila to retrieve patients. | Michael Smith, the director of Gold Coast-based Medical Rescue Air Ambulance, said his company was sending two planes to Port Vila to retrieve patients. |
| He said they had everything from serious head injuries to multiple lower-limb fractures. “It sounds like it was a pretty nasty accident,” he told ABC radio. | He said they had everything from serious head injuries to multiple lower-limb fractures. “It sounds like it was a pretty nasty accident,” he told ABC radio. |
| The first of his two planes – each equipped with a specialist emergency doctor, intensive care nurse, and critical care paramedic – was expected to land in Port Vila about 8.30am (AEST), with the second to leave the Gold Coast later in the day. | The first of his two planes – each equipped with a specialist emergency doctor, intensive care nurse, and critical care paramedic – was expected to land in Port Vila about 8.30am (AEST), with the second to leave the Gold Coast later in the day. |
| P&O said the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade was aware of the crash, and was providing consular assistance. | P&O said the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade was aware of the crash, and was providing consular assistance. |
| The families of the injured have also been notified. P&O said it was likely most, if not all, of the injured 12 would be Australian. | The families of the injured have also been notified. P&O said it was likely most, if not all, of the injured 12 would be Australian. |
| Sarah Amy said her grandparents were on the bus. “They are both seriously injured. We are waiting for them to be flown home to get treatment,” she wrote on Facebook. | |
| Danny Bushel said his in-laws were also hurt. “[My] mother-in-law has a compound fracture to her femur, and father-in-law has a broken left arm,” he posted on Facebook. | |
| The P&O spokesman could not provided ages or genders for those hurt, nor say if the crash involved children. | |
| The Pacific Dawn will remain in Port Vila until the medical evacuations are complete. | The Pacific Dawn will remain in Port Vila until the medical evacuations are complete. |
| Related: Vanuatu reconstruction moves ahead in the aftermath of cyclone Pam | Related: Vanuatu reconstruction moves ahead in the aftermath of cyclone Pam |
| “Our thoughts are with our guests and families at this time and also with members of the Ni Van community,” P&O said on its Facebook page. | “Our thoughts are with our guests and families at this time and also with members of the Ni Van community,” P&O said on its Facebook page. |
| In a new Facebook post on Tuesday morning, P&O said injured passengers were receiving good care in a Port Vila hospital while they awaited medical evacuations. | In a new Facebook post on Tuesday morning, P&O said injured passengers were receiving good care in a Port Vila hospital while they awaited medical evacuations. |
| “We are also receiving strong consular support both in Port Vila and in Noumea as this operation continues,” the company said. | “We are also receiving strong consular support both in Port Vila and in Noumea as this operation continues,” the company said. |
| “We thank our other guests who are currently on Pacific Dawn and have expressed their concern for their fellow guests. The captain is updating them on developments.” | “We thank our other guests who are currently on Pacific Dawn and have expressed their concern for their fellow guests. The captain is updating them on developments.” |