Three Britons die in Africa crash

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Three Britons including two 19-year-old female students have died following a road crash in South Africa.

The bus they were on overturned near Nelspruit in the north-eastern Mpumalanga Province, also leaving more than a dozen injured.

Officials in the region confirmed the third victim was male.

Two teachers and 18 students from Brooksby Melton College in Leicestershire were on the tourist bus, along with a South African guide.

'Shocked'

Police are considering whether to bring charges against the Zimbabwean driver.

The students, aged 18 to 22, were in South Africa as part of their studies for a foundation degree in animal management and welfare.

The trip was organised by Chameleon Worldwide in Hampshire.

Brooksby Melton College principal Chris Ball said: "As you can imagine, we are all deeply shocked and our thoughts and concerns are for the students, their families and staff involved."

She said the injured were being treated at a local medical centre where doctors were assessing them.

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

"We are working closely with the trip organisers, Chameleon Worldwide, who are doing everything possible to assist those involved and the South African authorities at this difficult time", she added.

Brenda Greaves told the BBC she had spoken to her daughter Rachel, 20, who was on the bus.

Mrs Greaves said: "She's got some abdominal pains, for which she's had an X-ray, but everything seems to be clear.

"She was wearing a seat belt, she says she was the only one wearing a seat belt - I'm not sure if that's the case - but it seems as if the seat belt sort of caused the pain.

"She said that they were going round a very nasty bend and the driver just lost control and that the bus just toppled over - she didn't really know any more than that."

Treatment

A 30-year-old woman and two men, aged 22 and 25, were admitted for treatment at the Nelspruit Medi Centre.

A provincial hospital and a clinic in Barberton treated 11 casualties.

Hospital spokeswoman Robin Baard said two of the casualties were "very seriously injured".

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.

The two teachers are believed to be among those hurt.

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

He said: "There are people involved, real people who we very much care about, who have trusted to travel with us and we take every possible care in looking after them."

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 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.

"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.

David Parsons, leader of Leicestershire County Council, said: "This is an appalling tragedy and our thoughts are with the relatives and families of the two young people."

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

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