WARNING, DISTRESSING CONTENT: CCTV footage shows three schoolboys falling from a double-decker bus window on Bolton Road, Ashton-in-Makerfield. The boys, two aged 13 and one 14, are still in hospital
Moment school children fall from double decker bus window in Wigan
CCTV footage captures the shocking moment three schoolboys fell from a double-decker bus window in Wigan on Wednesday (January 7). An investigation has been launched after emergency services rushed to the scene on Bolton Road, Ashton-in-Makerfield.
The boys, two aged 13 and one 14, remain in hospital but are not believed to be in a life-threatening condition following their fall.
Police initially said the trio were leaning against the window when the bus made an emergency stop.
However, video footage of the incident has now surfaced, capturing the dramatic moment they fell.
In the brief clip, the bus sits motionless as it waits for traffic to start moving again. A silver car and yellow bus can be seen behind it.
The CCTV shows several figures tumbling from a side window on the upper deck of the blue 950 service just before it starts moving. As the boys hit the tarmac, the silver vehicle behind slowly steers around the them.
The bus carries on with its route and one of the youngsters can be seen getting to his feet and running after it before the footage cuts out.
Greater Manchester Police has since released an updated statement, reports the Manchester Evening News.
A GMP spokesperson said: “Following on from the incident where three children have fallen from a bus in Ashton-in-Makerfield on 7 January, we can confirm that they are still in hospital but not thought to be in a life-threatening condition.
“The bus was stationary on Bolton Road when the three children, two aged 13 and one aged 14, fell at around 3.50pm.”
The MEN has learned that there will be no further investigations.
The trio were students at the nearby St Edmund Arrowsmith Catholic High School. In a letter to parents, shared with the Manchester Evening News, headteacher Mark Dumican stated that the school is in touch with the boys and providing support to their families.
Yesterday (January 8), Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham suggested that the fall ‘appeared to be linked to some disturbance on the upper deck’. He added: “It does sound like a serious incident.
“Our concern is with the young people and with their families. It was not a Bee Network branded service, I have to say.
“It would appear it was linked to some disturbance on the upper deck. I do not think there are any life-threatening injuries but there were some serious injuries.”
Alison Chew, TfGM’s Interim Network Director for Bus, commented: “This was a deeply concerning incident and our thoughts continue be with the injured children and their families at this time.
“The safety of all passengers and staff on the Bee Network is of paramount importance to us, and we are working with the operator to establish the full facts around what happened.”
A representative for the Bolton-based Vision Bus company stated: “The safety and wellbeing of all passengers remain the highest priority for everyone at Vision Bus, and we wish a speedy recovery to those involved in this incident.
“We have been fully cooperating with Greater Manchester Police (GMP) and other relevant agencies as appropriate in their investigations into a disturbance on the upper deck.
“Our thoughts are with all those affected.”
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