Parents of boy killed in Somerset coach crash thank community

BBC News

4 days ago

The parents of a 10-year-old boy who died in a coach crash have publicly thanked the "amazing community" supporting them. Oliver Price, a pupil at Minehead Middle School in Minehead, Somerset, suffered a fatal head injury when the coach he was travelling on with his classmates left the A396 in Exmoor and slid down a 6m (20ft) slope on 17 July.A huge emergency response descended on the scene in the aftermath of the crash, with members of the public in the Wheddon Cross area quickly volunteering to support rescue and relief efforts. In a statement shared via police, Oliver's parents Lucy and Matthew said the support they had received since his death had been "overwhelming".
In the days after the crash dozens of people left cards and bunches of flowers in tribute to Oliver and the other children and adults injured in the incident outside the school.Twenty-one people were taken to hospital to be treated for their injuries, with two children and one adult remaining in hospital.
'So very grateful'
In their statement Lucy and Matthew said they had seen "first-hand the incredible response from the community" after the "awful collision"."We are so very grateful to all the many emergency service workers who responded initially and those who continue to provide support in the aftermath, through the police investigation and the hospital teams who continue to look after those who were injured," they said. They also thanked the team at the Rest and Be Thankful pub in Wheddon Cross, which opened its doors as a rest centre during the incident - allowing paramedics to treat the injured and parents to reunite with their children.
"We send our best wishes and hopes for a speedy recovery to the other children and staff on the bus, particularly those who are still in hospital," they continued. "You are all in our thoughts."The support we've received from our amazing community has been overwhelming. To those who left kind messages, or flowers outside the school, we want to say thank you."
The coach was on its way back to Minehead Middle School from a day trip to Exmoor, carrying up to 70 people, when it crashed. Lucy and Matthew said they were "grateful beyond words" for the staff and parents at the "wonderful" school, as well as the "love we've been shown" by family and friends. "Finally, we would also like to pass on our thanks to the police investigation team for their support and ongoing hard work," they added. "We know this is a complex and emotive investigation but we appreciate their regular updates and continued efforts."