One child has died after a coach bringing children back from a school trip crashed and overturned near Minehead, Somerset, police have said.
A major incident was declared after the vehicle, which had 60-70 people on board, crashed on the A396 Cutcombe Hill, between Wheddon Cross and Timbercombe, shortly before 3pm on Thursday afternoon.
The coach was heading to Minehead Middle School at the time.
At a news conference on Thursday night, officials confirmed one child died at the scene.
A further 21 patients were taken to hospital, including two children who were transported via air ambulance. “Several” other people were treated at the scene, they added.
“This has been an incredibly challenging scene for all emergency services,” Chief Superintendent Mark Edgington said.
“Today’s events are truly tragic, we know the whole community and wider area will be utterly devastated to learn of this news.”
An investigation into what caused the crash will be carried out, he added.
Gavin Ellis, the chief fire officer for Devon and Somerset Fire & Rescue Service, said the coach “overturned onto its roof and slid approximately 20ft down an embankment”.
He praised an off-duty firefighter who was travelling behind the vehicle for helping at the scene, before crews then arrived to carry out rescues “in extremely difficult circumstances”.
Police said earlier that Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service were working to free the remaining occupants on the coach.
Peter Prior-Sankey, director of coach operator Ridlers, earlier told Sky News he “was made aware of an incident involving one of our 70-seater vehicles at about 3.15pm this afternoon”.
“We have since been liaising with both the school, and the emergency services, while we try to understand the extent of the incident,” he said.
“Everyone within the Ridlers team is of course deeply concerned and anxious to find out more detail – particularly concerning the welfare of the driver and passengers.
“While we wait for further information from police and other emergency teams, our hearts of course go out to the school pupils and to our driver.
“We will be doing everything possible to understand what has happened.”
Minehead Middle School has pupils aged between nine and 14, and is five days away from the end of term.
In a post on X, local MP Rachel Gilmour said: “I have heard news about a distressing road traffic incident around Wheddon Cross this afternoon.
“Emergency services are present, so please give them space to work. My thoughts are with all involved in the incident.”
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Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said she is “aware of the serious incident” and “receiving regular updates on the situation”.
