Britons killed in S Africa crash

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Two British women have been killed in a road crash in north-eastern South Africa.

The accident, which saw a tourist bus overturn near Nelspruit in Mpumalanga province, reportedly left up to 20 others injured, one critically.

Eighteen British students, two British teachers, a Zimbabwean driver and a South African guide were on board.

The trip was organised by Chameleon Worldwide, Hampshire, and the students are aged 18-22.

Treatment

A 30-year-old woman and two men, aged 22 and 25 are being treated at the Nelspruit Medi Centre and will have to stay in overnight.

Brooksby Melton College in Leicestershire said it was aware that some of its students had been involved in the crash.

The students were believed to be studying animal management and welfare and were on a field trip.

It is understood the group was not in South Africa for the World Cup and was due to return home on Friday.

A provincial hospital and a medi clinic in Barberton also treated eight casualties and three casualties respectively. All are to be transferred to Nelspruit.

Hospital spokeswoman Robin Baard said two of the casualties were "very seriously injured" but more continued to arrive.

She said: "One is in theatre now with internal injuries."

She said other patients had injuries including including facial lacerations and broken ribs and collar bones and that plastic surgery would be necessary for some of them.

Local reporters said some of the injured were trapped under the vehicle

Mark Wright, managing director of Chameleon Worldwide, said it was a "tragic event" and that relatives were still being contacted.

He said he had been told that some casualties had been airlifted to hospital in Barberton.

A team from the company was on the ground dealing with the incident, he said, and more people from the company would be flying out on Thursday.

"We have a senior director and other members of staff flying out late this afternoon and we have offered relatives and next-of-kin of those affected for us to co-ordinate their travel arrangements," he said.

Nicola Brewer, the British High Commissioner to South Africa, confirmed the deaths of the two Britons and said: "Our thoughts and sympathies are with the families and loved ones of those involved."

She said she was leading a crisis team heading to the area.

She said: "Our first priority is to visit the injured in hospital and get in touch with their families back home."

'Pretty treacherous'

According to local reports, the bus swerved and overturned on a road, and some of the injured were trapped under the vehicle for a period of time.

The BBC's Karen Allen in South Africa said it was understood that the accident happened when the vehicle slid on a sharp bend in the mountainous region near Nelspruit.

She said a male student was critically injured in the crash.

She said the roads were "pretty treacherous", but the infrastructure in the surrounding area was good and ambulances would have been quick to get to the scene.

A statement issued on behalf of Captain Leonard Hlathi, from Mpumalanga police, said the accident happened at noon local time.

Many of the injured were treated at the scene before being taken to a local hospital, he said.

"A tour truck carrying British tourists was travelling from Swaziland via Barberton (R40 between Josephsdal Border Post & Barberton) to Nelspruit in Mpumalanga when the vehicle left the road," he added.

The families of many of those involved are set to travel to South Africa later on Thursday.

The emergency number for anyone concerned about friends or relatives is 01962 737634.

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