Hero electrician recalls moment he pulls schoolchildren from bus crash wreckage
A hero electrician leapt into action when he witnessed a bus full of school children crash in Hampshire yesterday.
Emergency services were alerted after a double decker bus crashed near Eastleigh just before 10am on Thursday,June 26 with 20 people including the driver onboard. Five people were taken to hospital and around 14 children, with less serious injuries, were treated at the scene.
South Central Ambulance Service scrambled five ambulances, two helicopters, and specialist response units to the scene, while Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service sent crews from Eastleigh, St Mary's, Redbridge, Hightown and Portchester.
The passengers were all students on their way to Barton Peveril Sixth Form College, according to Hampshire Constabulary. A force spokesman confirmed two people - the driver and a passenger - had suffered serious injuries, but their injuries were not "life-threatening".
Local electrician Bruno Aguiar was on his way to work when his van was almost driven off the road by the bus. When he saw the bus career off the road he immediately rushed to help.
He told MailOnline: "I saw the bus coming really fast. I swerved to the pavement, and the bus came into the middle of both lanes. It hit a red Corsa from a driving school and then went into the river. I went to check on the driver, and he was asking for an ambulance. I saw [the bus] was full of children."
Quick to take action, Bruno pulled the ladder from his van, and with the help of a man wearing a Bluestar uniform, believed to be a passerby, helped the students to safety.
Bruno added: "I went to get the ladder off my van and helped the children get off the bus. There were no adults except the bus driver on the bus. I wasn't thinking clearly. The children were all panicked. A child doesn't think; they wait for help. I think it was a miracle nobody was more seriously injured."
Police have since praised the bravery of members of the public and emergency services who helped rescue some of the students and the driver who were trapped on board. Inspector Andy Tester, of Hampshire Constabulary, said: "It must have been terrifying and my thoughts are very much with the children and the driver on the bus who must have had a terrifying experience."
He said: "There was a lot of bravery shown by many people who were first on scene, who didn't have training to work in water and weren't equipped, but quickly backed up by our fire and ambulance colleagues who did have the right training to make it safe and make it a safe working environment.
The latest statement from Bluestar general manager Richard Tyldsley said: 'One of our buses, carrying students to Barton Peveril College, was involved in an incident earlier this morning in Bishopstoke Road, Eastleigh. Reports suggest the bus left the highway and came to rest in a shallow river.
'There were 19 passengers on-board at the time. Our driver and at least two of the passengers have confirmed injuries, and we are awaiting further updates on the status of others on-board.
'We do not currently have full details of their injuries and are following their progress closely. Our thoughts are with everybody involved, and we wish those who were injured a full and speedy recovery.
'At this time, we do not know the circumstances behind this incident and are carrying out an immediate investigation. We are also assisting the police as they carry out their own enquiries.'
A spokesperson for Barton Peveril Sixth Form College has said: 'We are aware of an incident involving the College 607 Bus. College staff are working closely with the police to ensure the safety and well-being of all students.
'We ask that people do not attend the actual scene. For concerned parents, an Incident Centre has been established at The Hub at Bishopstoke. An officer and college staff will be available at the Hub to provide updates and address any questions you may have.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Sky News
2 days ago
- Sky News
Jeff Stewart: Actor who played Reg Hollis in The Bill helps police arrest shoplifter
The actor who played PC Reg Hollis in hit TV series The Bill has been praised by officers after helping them arrest a shoplifter. Jeff Stewart stepped in when a thief attempted to escape on a bicycle in Southampton on Wednesday. In a statement, a Hampshire Constabulary spokesman said: "The thief, 29-year-old Mohamed Diallo, fell off the bike during his attempts to flee, before officers pounced to make their arrest. "To their surprise, local TV legend Jeff Stewart, who played PC Hollis for 24 years in The Bill, came to their aid by sitting on the suspect's legs while officers put him in cuffs. "In policing you should always expect the unexpected, but this really wasn't on The Bill for this week." The Bill was broadcast on ITV between 1984 and 2010 and featured the fictional lives of police officers from the Sun Hill police station in east London. Mr Stewart, who was among the original cast, appeared in more than 1,000 episodes as PC Hollis. In praising Mr Stewart's actions, the force said: "Long since retired from Sun Hill station - but he's still got it." Police from the Bargate Neighbourhoods Policing Team were alerted by staff at a Co-op store in Ocean Way to a suspected shoplifter on Wednesday. Mohamed Diallo, 29, of Anglesea Road, Southampton, was subsequently charged with five offences of theft relating to coffee, alcohol and food from the Co-op and two other Sainsbury's stores on three dates in April and July. He pleaded guilty at Southampton Magistrates' Court on Thursday and was bailed to be sentenced on August 29.
Glasgow Times
2 days ago
- Glasgow Times
TV copper Pc Reg Hollis helps real-life colleagues arrest shoplifter
Actor Jeff Stewart, who played Pc Hollis for 24 years in ITV series The Bill, jumped into action by sitting on the suspect's legs, after he fell from the bike, while officers handcuffed him, in the incident in Southampton, Hampshire, on Wednesday. Mohamed Diallo, 29, of Anglesea Road, Southampton, was charged with five offences of theft, to which he pleaded guilty, at Southampton Magistrates' Court on Thursday. He was bailed to be sentenced on August 29. Mohamed Diallo fell off his bike (Hampshire Constabulary/PA) A Hampshire Constabulary spokesman said: 'In policing you should always expect the unexpected, but this really wasn't on The Bill for this week. 'Officers making an arrest in Southampton were aided by none other than TV's Pc Reg Hollis during an incident on Wednesday 23 July. 'The officers, from Bargate Neighbourhoods Policing Team, were in the city in the afternoon when they were alerted by staff at Co-op in Ocean Way to a suspected shoplifter, who attempted to make good his escape on a bicycle. 'The thief, 29-year-old Mohamed Diallo, fell off the bike during his attempts to flee, before officers pounced to make their arrest. 'To their surprise, local TV legend Jeff Stewart, who played Pc Hollis for 24 years in The Bill, came to their aid by sitting on the suspect's legs while officers put him in cuffs. 'Long since retired from Sun Hill station – but he's still got it.' Diallo was convicted of the theft of £17.25 worth of coffee from Co-op in Ocean Way on July 23, theft of £69.90 worth of coffee and food items on July 17, and £54.50 of alcohol and coffee from the same shop on July 14. He also admitted stealing £80 of wine from Sainsbury's in Bedford Place on July 14 and £63 worth of alcohol from Sainsbury's in Redcar Street on April 22.
Telegraph
2 days ago
- Telegraph
Watch: The Bill star helps real-life police arrest shoplifter
An actor who starred as a policeman in TV show The Bill helped real-life officers apprehend a runaway thief on Wednesday, footage shows. Jeff Stewart, who played PC Reg Hollis in over 900 episodes of the show from 1984 to 2008, sprinted after a shoplifter and sat on his legs as officers arrested him. Praising the actor, Hampshire Constabulary said he was 'long since retired from Sun Hill station – but he's still got it'. The footage shows that, as Stewart comes to the police's aid, he tells them: 'Well, I was in The Bill for 24 years.' The 69-year-old Scottish actor helped the officers make an arrest in Southampton, Hants, on Wednesday. A force spokesman said: 'In policing, you should always expect the unexpected, but this really wasn't on The Bill for this week. Officers making an arrest in Southampton were aided by none other than TV's PC Reg Hollis during an incident on Wednesday July 23. 'The officers were in the city in the afternoon when they were alerted by staff at Co-op in Ocean Way to a suspected shoplifter, who attempted to make good his escape on a bicycle. The thief – 29-year-old Mohamed Diallo – fell off the bike during his attempts to flee, before officers pounced to make their arrest. 'To their surprise, local TV legend Jeff Stewart, who played PC Hollis for 24 years,came to their aid by sitting on the suspect's legs while officers put him in cuffs.' Witness Sam Holton was working from his home when he heard the commotion outside. He said: 'I hear lots of screaming and commotion. I see this guy cycling away, and he is being chased by a member of the public and two police. 'By the time I had whipped out my phone, the first police officer tackled the guy to the floor on his bike, and the other chap caught up. There was an older guy chasing behind the police. He helped the police hold the guy.' Diallo, from Southampton, admitted five counts of theft totalling £284 at Southampton magistrates' court. He will be sentenced next week.
