British tourists injured in Turkish coach crash
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Your support makes all the difference.Nearly 50 British tourists were injured and five Turks were killed yesterday in a coach crash near one of Turkey's most popular holiday resorts.
The tourists were being driven to their hotels in Marmaris after arriving on a flight from Manchester when their coach is believed to have hit another bus that had just collided with a car. The drivers of both coaches were killed, along with a passenger on the Turkish bus and two people in the car. Forty six Britons, including a holiday rep, were taken to hospital. Last night, 15 tourists were still in hospital, one of whom had serious head injuries.
The crash, at about 3.15am local time, happened at Dogusbelen, near Koycegiz in western Turkey, where narrow roads wind through mountains and deep valleys. The Airtours group had landed two hours earlier at Dalaman airport on a MyTravel flight. The injured passengers were taken to hospitals in Marmaris and Mugla.
Tina Rigg, 37, from Preston, who was on the coach with her husband, three children and a niece, was treated in hospital with her family before going on to their hotel in Marmaris.
"It was terrifying," she said. "We were just driving along this road and suddenly there was a massive bang and the next thing I remember is being pulled through the coach window. I struggled to come to and realised what had happened and then just thought 'I'm alive'. All I could think was to check the children were OK. I don't think we can stay out here now. I just want to go home."
The British consul, Dominic Clissold, described the crash as "horrifying and traumatic". He said: "The roads are in a good condition, but there are lots of winding roads." Mr Clissold added that such accidents were rare and consulate staff were on the scene and at the hospitals soon afterwards.
An Airtours spokesman said anyone who wanted to return home would be helped by the company. Airtours has set up a helpline for relatives and friends. The number is: 01706 909050.
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