Boy suffers life-threatening injuries in bus accident (From Swindon Advertiser)

Boy suffers life-threatening injuries in bus accident in Haydon Wick

6:43pm Friday 22nd February 2013 in News By Matthew Edwards

A SCHOOLBOY suffered life-threatening injuries after being hit by a bus this afternoon.

The incident happened at approximately 3.30pm on Westfield Way, near the Orbital Shopping Centre.

The child, who is of primary school age, was hit by a Thamesdown Transport bus.

Police and paramedics were first on the scene before the air ambulance turned up to attend to the youngster.

A second air ambulance, carrying a doctor from Bristol’s Frenchay Hospital, landed at the scene at 4.20pm before the boy was flown to Frenchay with a serious head injury.

Reports on the scene say that the boy was conscious and breathing, but had sustained life-threatening injuries.

Inspector Janine Chowney-Andrews, force incident manager, said: “We have not got much information at the moment, the young lad has been air lifted to Frenchay Hospital.

“Obviously he has been air lifted so the injuries are potentially life threatening, but we do not know if he was conscious or not.

“The child is thought to be seven or eight-years-old and has hit his head on the windscreen.

“We are appealing for any witnesses to the incident to come forward.”

Two eyewitnesses, who were on the bus, said they didn’t realise it was a child who had been hit until they saw the bus driver rush out of the vehicle.

Mark Hewlett, of Haydon End, said: “I didn’t see anything, I heard a noise and thought someone had thrown a brick at the bus.

“The bus suddenly stopped and everyone went flying forward.

“I heard screaming and crying, which I suppose in the situation is a good sign because it means he was conscious.

“I just hope he is okay and my thoughts are with the family.”