Carrowdore school bus crash latest: Four in hospital after vehicle overturns with 43 pupils on board

Praising the response of emergency service crews and hospital staff, Stormont health minister Mike Nesbitt said: “This has been a shocking incident and my thoughts this evening are with all of those affected and their families.

“I am receiving regular updates. 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.”

Four people are in hospital after a school bus carrying 43 schoolchildren crashed in Northern Ireland, paramedics have said.

The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS) said at 4:30pm on Monday that it had declared a major incident following the crash in County Down, which left the bus lying on its side in a field several metres from the road.

You can read our full report on the incident here:

Northern Ireland's public transport provider Translink has said it is assisting police with their investigations.

The bus had been carrying pupils from Strangford College to Bangor.

More pictures have emerged from the scene of the bus crash.

Shortly after 5pm, the principal at Strangford College issued a message to parents urging them not to make their way to the scene of the crash, Belfast Live reported.

In a statement, Clare Foster reportedly said: “We are currently dealing with an incident involving one of our school buses. Two other buses have been delayed due to this incident but will be leaving soon.

“Please can I ask that parents do not come to the scene as this is causing obstruction with the emergency services.

“An incident desk has been set up at the school and I would ask that any concerned parents attend the incident desk at the College rather than at the scene. An update will follow as soon as possible.”

Northern Ireland’s first minister Michelle O’Neill has shared her support for those caught up in the bus crash in County Down.

In a statement on X, Ms O’Neill said: “My heart goes out to everyone injured, their families, and the emergency services who are on the scene in Carrowdore.”

The South Eastern Health Trust said it was responding to the major incident: “Our staff in the emergency department are preparing to treat anyone who needs our care.

“We would ask any patient not requiring emergency care to please use alternative services. If your condition is life-threatening, please visit the Emergency Department at the Ulster Hospital as normal.”

The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service said it has now “stood down” this afternoon’s major incident.

In a statement, NIAS said: “The service will remain busy for many hours as we deal with the backlog of calls. Please use 999 wisely and be patient if you really need to call us.”

The mother of 12-year-old Dylan Lee, a pupil at Strangford Integrated College who was on the top deck of the bus and sustained a head injury in the crash, said she could hear pupils screaming over the phone after the vehicle turned over.

Dylan said: “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 ... The first thing I did when I got up was to phone my mum.”

Stacey Lee said her son had a lump and a cut on his head, adding: “I could hear him screaming that he had crashed and I could hear all the kids in the background screaming. It was awful.”

Dylan said: “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.”