Heroic Ex-Jockey Rescues Children After Somerset Bus Crash

A tragic bus accident in Somerset on July 17, 2023, claimed the life of a 10-year-old child and left several others injured. The bus, carrying between 60 and 70 pupils from Minehead Middle School, fell approximately 20 feet from a cliff while returning from a trip to Exmoor Zoo. The incident unfolded on the A396 at Cutcombe Hill, creating a scene of chaos and urgency.

Alan Jones, a 64-year-old former jockey, played a crucial role in the immediate aftermath of the crash. Using his quad bike, he transported injured children and adults to safety at the Rest and Be Thankful Inn in Wheddon Cross. Jones arrived at the scene within ten minutes, navigating through fields as the road was closed to traffic.

Jones described the unsettling images he encountered, which have left him struggling to sleep since the incident. “It’s the most remote place,” he recalled. “The children coming out of that accident wouldn’t have known where they were.” He emphasized the importance of his quick response, stating, “I think it would have been wrong not to try and help.”

Upon arrival, he first assisted two teachers who had emerged from the wreckage. They were visibly shaken, and as they made their way toward the inn, Jones encountered a group of children and one adult. The gathered individuals were uncertain and distressed, having been instructed to head to the pub as a temporary safe zone.

“They were just sort of stranded there,” Jones recounted. “They didn’t know what was going on, really.” He noted the emotional toll on the children, who were crying and confused after being in an overturned bus.

As emergency services began to arrive, Jones continued to help evacuate the victims. Tragically, aside from the deceased child, six other children and three adults are currently hospitalized.

In the wake of this devastating event, community support has surged. A local resident, Bobbie Raymond, initiated a GoFundMe campaign to assist those affected. The initiative has already raised over £15,000 within just one day. “This tragedy has shaken the local community,” Raymond stated on the fundraising page. “As a father of two young children, I can only begin to imagine the pain and heartbreak that so many are experiencing right now.”

Among the fortunate ones was 10-year-old Emily Manning, who was initially set to board the ill-fated bus. At the last moment, she was told the vehicle was full and instructed to take another bus home, which ultimately spared her from the horrific scene. Her father, Nick Manning, expressed his gratitude, stating, “It’s every parent’s nightmare, it’s absolutely awful.”

The incident drew the attention of emergency responders, including an off-duty firefighter who was traveling behind the bus at the time of the accident. Gavin Ellis, Chief Fire Officer for Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service, confirmed the mobilization for a major incident, stating, “I’m grateful to the off-duty firefighter who was able to start taking immediate action to start releasing those casualties from the bus.”

As the community rallies to support those affected, the emotional scars of this tragedy will take time to heal. Families are left grappling with the loss and the impact of a day that began with a school outing and ended in heartbreak.