Three helicopters and 20 ambulances responded to the accident near Somerset. Twenty-one individuals were transported to hospital, while emergency personnel attended to others at the location.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said his thoughts were with the family and friends of those involved in the heartbreaking crash.

“There are no adequate words to acknowledge the death of a child,” Starmer said on X.

“Thank you to the emergency workers who are responding at pace.”

An off-duty firefighter traveling behind the bus reacted quickly at the scene, assisting in freeing passengers before dozens of additional firefighters and ambulance crews arrived, according to Gavin Ellis, chief of Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service.

“Our crews carried out a number of extrications and rescues in extremely difficult circumstances, and they also supported our ambulance colleagues with casualty treatment,” Ellis said.

The bus carrying 60 to 70 passengers was returning to Minehead Middle School in Somerset from a day trip when it crashed just before 3pm, police said.

The school, which teaches children from ages 9 to 14, was in its final days before summer break.