Parents of Lee Chapel Primary pupils praise staff after fire

The incident happened on the M25[1] near Leatherhead at around 4pm on June 19, as Year 6 pupils from Lee Chapel Primary School in Basildon were returning from a residential trip to the Isle of Wight. Mechanical issues caused the coach to overheat and catch fire, but all children were safely evacuated before the vehicle was engulfed in flames. One parent said: "I want to express our sincere thanks to the teaching staff who accompanied the children on the school trip to the Isle of Wight.

"It is difficult to imagine how frightening and stressful today's situation must have been for everyone involved. "As scary and worrying as it was for us as parents to hear the news, knowing that the children were being cared for by such an amazing group of teachers provided enormous reassurance." Parents described how pupils were quickly moved to safety and comforted by staff during the incident.

One parent told the Echo: "My daughter was on the other coach. "From what she has described to me, I think us parents really need to give a huge thanks to the teachers and coach drivers for their immaculate bravery and their efforts in getting all the children to safety. "They really need all the praise in the world for keeping them safe in such a traumatic time."

Another parent said: "I just wanted to say a massive thank you to everyone who went on the Isle of Wight trip. "Knowing that every child made it home safely is down to the care, quick thinking and calmness you all showed in such an awful situation." South East Coast Ambulance Service transported children and staff to East Surrey Hospital in Redhill for further checks, and they were returned home later that night.

The school commended the professionalism of emergency services[2] and praised students for their calm response.

A spokesman for the school said they were proud of the "calm, mature and responsible manner" shown by pupils during the incident.

The coach was returning from a week-long school trip when the fire broke out.

References

1. ^ The incident happened on the M25 (www.echo-news.co.uk)
2. ^ The school commended the professionalism of emergency services (www.echo-news.co.uk)