A 10-year-old boy has died in a coach crash in Somerset that left 21 passengers hospitalised, police have confirmed. The incident occurred on Thursday afternoon when the coach overturned and plunged 20 feet down an embankment on the A396 between Wheddon Cross and Timberscombe, Exmoor.
The coach was returning from a trip to Exmoor Zoo with pupils from Minehead Middle School. Four children and three adults remain in hospital in Somerset, while two children taken to Bristol Royal Hospital for Children by air ambulance are also still receiving treatment. The driver is in hospital with injuries but in a stable condition.
Headteacher Laura Mackie described the loss as 'unimaginable', stating: 'The loss is unimaginable and we keep the student we have lost in our hearts.' Prime Minister Keir Starmer paid tribute on social media, calling it a 'heartbreaking update' and offering his thoughts to the family and all affected.
Six schools within the Beacon Education multi-academy trust, including Minehead Middle School, were closed on Friday as the community mourned. Flowers have been laid outside the school, and Reverend Philip Butcher described the tragedy as 'absolutely numbing'. Police have appealed for witnesses and the road remains closed for investigation.
