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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Belgium coach crash: Brentwood School pupils come home | Belgium coach crash: Brentwood School pupils come home |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Schoolchildren involved in a coach crash in Belgium in which a driver died have returned to Essex. | Schoolchildren involved in a coach crash in Belgium in which a driver died have returned to Essex. |
| James "Geordie" Chance, from Northern Ireland, was killed when the bus carrying 34 Brentwood School pupils crashed on a motorway on Sunday. | James "Geordie" Chance, from Northern Ireland, was killed when the bus carrying 34 Brentwood School pupils crashed on a motorway on Sunday. |
| Two boys remain in hospital in Belgium. One of them, aged 13, is in intensive care with a head injury. | Two boys remain in hospital in Belgium. One of them, aged 13, is in intensive care with a head injury. |
| Several pupils travelled back to the UK late on Sunday night on a coach arranged by the school. | Several pupils travelled back to the UK late on Sunday night on a coach arranged by the school. |
| "The coach returning the remaining pupils and staff has just arrived at school safely," tweeted Brentwood School head Ian Davies. | "The coach returning the remaining pupils and staff has just arrived at school safely," tweeted Brentwood School head Ian Davies. |
| "Thoughts and prayers still with two pupils in hospital," he added. | "Thoughts and prayers still with two pupils in hospital," he added. |
| He said pupils and staff would be offered counselling, but the school was open as normal for those not involved in the crash. | |
| The Belgian authorities are working to establish details of the crash, which happened on the A18 (E40) at Middelkerke, West Flanders. Eyewitnesses said the bus crashed into a motorway bridge pillar. | |
| A spokesman for Richmond Coaches, the bus operator, said the company was "devastated" to hear of the death of Mr Chance, who was in his 50s. | A spokesman for Richmond Coaches, the bus operator, said the company was "devastated" to hear of the death of Mr Chance, who was in his 50s. |
| From the scene | From the scene |
| BBC Essex reporter Richard Smith | BBC Essex reporter Richard Smith |
| Belgian Police told me the crash happened between the junctions for the small seaside town of Middelkerke. | Belgian Police told me the crash happened between the junctions for the small seaside town of Middelkerke. |
| As I used the motorway, I realised it would be possible to drive past without realising what had happened less than 24 hours ago. | As I used the motorway, I realised it would be possible to drive past without realising what had happened less than 24 hours ago. |
| The road is smooth and straight, and passes through flat countryside. | |
| Earlier on, I stood on top of the bridge as the sun came up. | |
| There was no obvious sign of the collision below. No signs, no roadworks. | There was no obvious sign of the collision below. No signs, no roadworks. |
| The modern-looking Sint Augustinus hospital in Veurne where a 13-year-old boy is in intensive care is a short distance from the busy E40 motorway. | The modern-looking Sint Augustinus hospital in Veurne where a 13-year-old boy is in intensive care is a short distance from the busy E40 motorway. |
| He's being treated for a head injury with his parents are at his bedside. | |
| I understand he's been undergoing tests and had a scan on a small brain bleed as a result of a fractured skull. | |
| The 34 children who were on that coach, all aged between 11 and 13, and their teachers - I don't think they're ever going to forget the school trip which violently stopped before it could start. | |
| One of the boys, 12, is being treated for leg injuries at a hospital in Bruges. | |
| Other students, a number of whom were treated for cuts, bruising and swelling, were picked up by their parents who travelled to Belgium. | Other students, a number of whom were treated for cuts, bruising and swelling, were picked up by their parents who travelled to Belgium. |
| The teacher in charge of the trip was taken to hospital with a broken collarbone. | The teacher in charge of the trip was taken to hospital with a broken collarbone. |
| Mr Chance, a grandfather of five, was sitting in the coach's courier seat when the vehicle crashed at 09:45 local time (08:45 BST), Richmond Coaches confirmed. | Mr Chance, a grandfather of five, was sitting in the coach's courier seat when the vehicle crashed at 09:45 local time (08:45 BST), Richmond Coaches confirmed. |
| The bus's driver, Stephen Cardwell, who is also from Northern Ireland, is said to be in a stable condition in hospital. | The bus's driver, Stephen Cardwell, who is also from Northern Ireland, is said to be in a stable condition in hospital. |
| Brendan McKenna, director of Richmond Coaches, said: "Our thoughts and prayers are with all the families that have been affected by this tragic accident." | Brendan McKenna, director of Richmond Coaches, said: "Our thoughts and prayers are with all the families that have been affected by this tragic accident." |
| Brentwood School's head Mr Davies said the coach returned just before midnight on Sunday. | |
| "There was quite a welcoming party when the coach eventually drew up. I was quite shocked at some of the injuries the teachers had sustained," he said. | |
| Mr Davies added that counsellors would be on hand "for the next week". | |
| "I would expect staff who were involved in the trip and certainly all the children to make use of that counselling opportunity," he said. | |
| "I don't think it's a quick fix, its something that will go on for long time." |