1 Student Killed, 21 Passengers Injured After Middle School Bus Overturns and Slides 20 Feet on Its Roof

One child has died and multiple others have been injured after a school bus overturned and slid down an embankment while carrying students back from a school outing.

On Thursday, July 17, shortly before 3 p.m. local time, emergency services responded to “a collision involving a [bus] on the A396 at Cutcombe Hill, in Exmoor” in the South West of England, per a release shared by Avon and Somerset Police.

Officials confirmed that “approximately 60 to 70 people were believed to be onboard at the time,” as the bus headed back to Minehead Middle School. Authorities confirmed that one student sadly died in the incident.

“A major incident was declared, with police, fire and ambulance services dispatching crews to the scene,” the release stated.

“The coach was carrying a number of adults and children to Minehead Middle School when it overturned,” it added. 

Wayne Darch, Deputy Director of Operations at the South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust, confirmed, per a release, that 21 patients had been taken to the hospital following the incident, via land and air ambulance.  

“We sent 46 resources to the scene, including 20 double-crewed land ambulances, three air ambulances, a command team, and two hazardous area response teams,” Darch said, according to the post.

Gavin Ellis, Chief Fire Officer for Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service, said that the bus had come off a remote rural road, per the BBC.

“We were [mobilized] to a major incident to a [bus] that had overturned onto its roof and slipped approximately 20-feet down an embankment,” he said, according to the outlet.

A Devon and Somerset Fire & Rescue Service confirmed the distance the bus fell in a statement to PEOPLE, writing, “That is correct as far as the details we have.”

Minehead Middle School, which is located in the town of Minehead in Somerset, England, teaches students between the ages of 9 and 14, per Sky News. The school had been due to go on summer break five days after the crash, the outlet noted.

Sky News reported that an off-duty firefighter had been traveling behind the bus at the time, and helped out at the scene before authorities were able to carry out rescues “in extremely difficult circumstances,” citing chief fire officer Ellis.

“I’m grateful for the tireless effort and actions of the crews in doing everything they could for those who were trapped and as quickly as safely as possible,” he added, according to the outlet.

“I’m extremely proud of the efforts that my firefighters took today at this tragic event,” Ellis continued.

A fire service statement released on Thursday evening stated, “This was a complex and technically difficult incident and we’re grateful for the tireless actions of the crews in doing everything they could to free those who were trapped as quickly and safely as possible. An off-duty firefighter witnessed the incident and also immediately helped at the scene.”

“Our crews have received [counseling] support through our defusing process. We’re extremely proud and thankful for their actions at this traumatic incident,” the release stated.

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The Beacon Education Multi-Academy Trust, which runs Minehead Middle School, and the South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust didn’t immediately respond when contacted by PEOPLE for additional information. The Avon and Somerset Police and the Devon and Somerset Fire & Rescue Service had no additional updates at time of publication.