All five tourists killed in a coach crash in Austria have been confirmed as British. Unconfirmed reports indicate the victims include two men, two women, and a teenage girl. The accident occurred on a twisting mountain road near Salzburg when a minibus swerved in front of the coach while overtaking, causing the driver to lose control. The vehicle plunged down an embankment and rolled over several times, with the roof pushed down onto the seats.
Five more people remain in critical condition in local hospitals. Some of the injured tourists are expected to begin returning home today. Gerhard Huber, head of the Salzburg Red Cross, confirmed the nationalities of the deceased, and police are using DNA tests to confirm identities. The British group included several families, with up to five members in some cases, who had been visiting Berchtesgaden in the German Alps.
Survivors described the terrifying experience. Lorraine Newman, travelling with her three sons, said the minibus appeared suddenly and clipped the coach before it left the road. 'It was awful - we were flipping over and over. It seemed to go on forever,' she said. Peter Davies, 27, from Shropshire, escaped with minor injuries, but his girlfriend suffered a broken leg and jaw. He described the scene as 'horrible'.
British tour operator Inghams, which organised the trip, is arranging for relatives to travel to Austria. Spokeswoman Lynsey Devon said around 20 friends and relatives have already flown out, with more to follow. An air ambulance pilot described the scene as 'like a war zone', and a local resident who was first on the scene said she could hear people crying but could do little to help. Some of the injured are undergoing surgery today.
