Horror as schoolchildren left 'crying for help' after double-decker bus overturned - before hero plasterer uses hammer to free them
A hero plasterer has revealed how he used a hammer to smash windows and help rescue schoolchildren who were crying for help after their double-decker bus crashed.
A hero plasterer has revealed how he used a hammer to smash windows and help rescue schoolchildren who were crying for help after their double-decker bus crashed.
Gary Smyth has been speaking today of the moment he feared the worst and that people had died after the vehicle carrying dozens of pupils overturned in County Down, Northern Ireland.
Witnesses and officials say they are amazed that no one was killed in the accident, with the scene described as being like a battlefield.
And Mr Smyth called it like something out of a movie as he told of how he and colleagues in a work van rushed to help after travelling behind the bus.
He was thanked by a relieved father of two schoolgirls who were on board the bus which ended up sideways in a field on Ballyblack Road East near Carrowdore and Strangford, a village 30 miles from Belfast.
A Translink bus carrying dozens of pupils ended up sideways in a field on Ballyblack Road East near Carrowdore and Strangford, a village 30 miles from Belfast, on Monday
The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service declared a major incident in County Down
Hero plasterer Gary Smyth (pictured) has today been speaking about how he and a colleague used a hammer to smash glass windows on the bus to help get to trapped passengers
The wrecked blue bus was pictured toppled on its side in a field, cordoned off and surrounded by police after it careened off the road with children ‘screaming’ in fear.
Shocking images from the scene showed the shattered windscreen and schoolchildren standing next to it, clutching their bags, yesterday afternoon.
One child was reportedly stuck when their arm became caught and another when their leg was trapped.
Two people were rescued from the bus by firefighters using specialist cutting equipment.
It was revealed at the time that a man with a hammer had smashed the vehicles glass windows to reach children and help get them released.
Now he has been identified as Mr Smyth, who spoke this morning to the BBCs Good Morning Ulster radio show about what happened - including how he initially tried to kick in the glass before realising he and a workmate needed to take a different approach.
He said: We couldnt break the glass, it was hard to break, so we got a hammer out of the van, the work van.
We smashed it in and my work colleague, he lifted the glass and we climbed in and we now got the pupils out.
It just happened so quickly. This was something you don’t want to see. Through the cracked glass, you could see the panic in their faces.
The wrecked blue bus was pictured toppled on its side in a field, cordoned off and surrounded by police after it careened off the road with children ‘screaming’ in fear
Four people today remained in hospital following the accident which the emergency services are pictured here attending on Monday
They were crying and shouting for help, so we attacked the glass like lunatics and we got them out.
The double-decker had been carrying 43 pupils from Strangford College to Bangor when it overturned and ended up on its side in a field.
Jim Shannon, DUP MP for the area where it happened, today said it was a miracle that there were no deaths or serious injuries though he said four pupils remained in hospital.
He said: The people who came to help - the workmen, the farmers, the whole community, the animal charity which is just a matter of yards away - all these people came as they did to help, as quick as they could to get the children out of the bus.
It is a miracle, an absolute miracle that there wasnt worse injuries or, worse, fatalities.
And Mr Smyth himself said: I definitely thought we were going to be lifting out something, some limbs or something, somebody. I just couldnt believe there was nobody seriously seriously hurt.
He was thanked on-air for his rescue efforts by Jonny Currie, whose daughrers Edie and Tilly were among those travelling on the crashed bus.
Mr Currie told of his fear after receiving a phone call from his wife that there had been an accident and rushing to the scene.
He said his daughters had sore backs and necks and had been subdued at home following the ordeal, before staying away from school today.
Jonny Currie, pictured with his family, told the BBC today of his relief that his two daughters Edie and Tilly were safe after they were among the pupils on board the overturned bus
The double-decker had been carrying 43 pupils from Strangford College to Bangor when it overturned and ended up on its side in a field
Mr Currie said: When we heard the news, it was coming in drips and drabs, it was a very fast-moving situation and you were having to piece together different things you were hearing from other parents and what you were seeing on Facebook.
It was working it out from there, where is it? How can I get there? How bad is it? It was a very very uncertain few moments.
I was able to park about a mile up from the site and I ran the rest of the way to get there as quick as possible.
He said to Mr Smyth: Were really thankful to you and others on the scene - thank you so much, we really appreciate it.
DUP MP Mr Shannon today said he did not want to speculate on the reasons for the crash, stating his priority was the welfare of the pupils.
He said: There are four people - one with a pelvic injury, one with an arm injury, one with a leg injury, one with a hand injury - they are still in hospital.
The MP said repairs have been carried out on the stretch of road where the accident occurred, adding: The main focus at this time is to make sure the children are all right.
One of the parents told me yesterday that when their daughter came home she was all over the place.
The physical trauma that she is feeling is clear, but there is also an emotional trauma.
Two people were rescued from the bus by firefighters using specialist cutting equipment
More than 50 people travelling on board the bus were said to have suffered minor injuries
DUP MP Jim Shannon has said it was a miracle that no one was more seriously injured or died in the accident
And Mr Currie said his daughters Edie and Tilly probably wont be on a school bus for a while, adding: Were certainly not going to pressurise them. Were going to have to make alternative arrangements for a wee while.
One witness had said on Monday that the bus hit a pole or a post before shuddering and falling into a ditch and another described the scene as like a battlefield.
Dylan Lee, 12, who was among those on board, said: I was on the top deck on the right hand side. I was just sitting with my friend. He is fine, he just hurt his arm.
The bus hit a post and it started to stall and went down this hill. It just started shaking. I closed my eyes and then I opened them and I was on the floor.
Then there was this guy came down with a hammer and the windows were all being smashed so we could get out.
I was crawling under stuff like railings and school bags and stuff. It was on its side in the field.
Public service provider Translink has said it is assisting the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) with their investigation.
The transport firms chief executive Chris Conway said: Our thoughts are with all those involved in this incident.
The Education Authority has said it will work with Strangford College to provide support for any children affected by the events.
Dylan Lee, 12, pictured with his mother Stacey at the scene, had been sitting on the top deck of the bus when it overturned
Public service provider Translink has said it is assisting the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) with their investigation into what happened
The transport firms chief executive Chris Conway said: Our thoughts are with all those involved in this incident
And Stormont Health Minister Mike Nesbitt praised the response of emergency services crews and hospital staff.
He said: This has been a shocking incident and my thoughts this evening are with all of those affected and their families.
I want to express my heartfelt thanks to the emergency crews attending the scene and to the hospital staff caring for those who have been injured.
First Minister Michelle O’Neill said on Monday: My heart goes out to everyone injured, their families, and the emergency services who are on the scene in Carrowdore.
