Ecuador bus crash survivors 'sticking together' after ordeal
Tuesday, 15 Apr 2008 10:05
Survivors of Ecuador bus crash 'coping' after being hospitalised in capital Quito
Survivors of a bus crash in Ecuador which left five Britons dead have said they will stick together as a means of coming to terms with their ordeal.
Twelve Britons, a French national and two Ecuadorians - the bus driver and guide - were flown to the capital Quito on Monday to be treated for minor facial, whiplash and leg injuries.
The five who died in the crash - all women - have been named as Rebecca Logie, 20, Lizzie Pincock, 19, Indira Swann, 19, Emily Sadler, 20, and Sarah Howard, 27.
The group had been travelling with Warwick-based gap-year company VentureCo between Quito and the city of Puerto Lopez on Saturday evening when their vehicle collided with a lorry.
Speaking at a Quito press conference, Sarah Martin, one of the British survivors, said accidents such as the bus crash should not dissuade school leavers from taking a gap year.
"I think a year out has a huge amount of benefits, and I think a tragic accident shouldn't be stopping people from travelling," she explained.
Richard Winter said that the group travelling on the bus had bonded well despite their short time together.
"We miss them, loads," he added. "We were only with them for two weeks but we were really close."
Of the 12 Britons injured in the crash, none are thought to be in a critical condition and they are likely to return home today via Madrid.
Ecuadorian authorities have begun an investigation into the crash with the acting British ambassador to assist after visiting the injured.
Mark Davison, the director of VentureCo, said a road traffic accident in the coastal region was unusual as the high Andes was viewed as the most dangerous area.
"It's most unexpected to have an accident there," he explained. "This was an Ecuadorian driver who was reliable, and he was on the home run. We have used that company for many years."
The parents of two of the students killed in the crash yesterday paid tribute to their daughters.
Ms Sadler's family said in a statement: "She was a beautiful bubbly girl with her whole life ahead of her. Her loss is indescribable."
Ms Swann's parents told the BBC they were proud of their daughter.
"There are just so many wonderful stories we could tell about Indira. That she was so generous, caring. She was a joy to be around," they said.
"We were so proud of her, she was her own person, she was independent and she did the travel with our full blessing with our knowledge of the risks.
"We have no regrets about her going other than the final outcome."
According to the Foreign Office's website around 22,000 Britons visit Ecuador every year.
A phone number has been released for anyone worried about friends or relatives and people are urged to call the Foreign Office on 0207 008 1500.