British tourists in Kenya injured in airport transfer crash

British tourists have been injured in a coach crash near Mombasa in Kenya, according to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO).

It is thought the bus was transferring tourists on holiday with UK tour operator First Choice between their hotels and the airport in Mombasa, when the vehicle veered off the road on Saturday morning (02/03/2013) and rolled down an embankment.

BBC news has reported that 15 tourists and three local staff were involved, but the FCO has said that the injuries caused are not thought to be life threatening – six passengers were taken to hospital in Mombasa after the coach crash.

A witness travelling in the coach behind told reporters that the driver appeared to be struggling to keep the bus on the road and at one point a wheel went over the edge of the tarmac road, plunging the bus down the embankment.

A spokesperson for First Choice said that three of the injured are British but their injuries are not thought to be “serious”.

Images from the crash site show all the windows in the bus shattered on impact and the bus was left lying on its side on the edge of a main road.

An investigation into the cause of the accident is taking place and First Choice has set up a helpline for anyone affected by the accident. A spokesman for the tour operator said:

“We can confirm there were 15 passengers and one staff member on board – three passengers are being treated for injuries at a local hospital.”

First Choice added that its staff in resort were “working closely” with Kenyan authorities to establish the cause of the accident.

It is expected that those involved in the crash may go on to develop post-traumatic stress disorder which can often take months for symptoms to start following an event such as this.