British Tourist Killed, 27 Injured in Canary Islands Bus Crash on La Gomera
A British man has died and 27 people have been hospitalised after a tourist bus plunged into a ravine on the island of La Gomera in the Canary Islands. It is understood that all passengers on board were British nationals, with four of those injured reported to be in a critical condition. The tragic incident occurred at approximately 2pm local time on the GM-2 highway near San Sebastian de La Gomera.
Emergency Services Respond to the Scene
Emergency services, including medical helicopters, were swiftly deployed to the crash site. The Canary Islands emergency and security coordination centre activated a comprehensive response, sending two medical helicopters, one medical ambulance, two basic life support ambulances, and two non-urgent health transport units. Health professionals assessed the injured at the scene before transferring them to various hospitals across the islands.
Local officials confirmed: “Emergency health services attended to the 28 occupants of the bus, 27 tourists of British nationality and the driver. One male deceased is confirmed and 27 injured of varying degrees of severity.” Among the seriously injured were a 73-year-old man and a 42-year-old man, who were initially taken to Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe Hospital on La Gomera before being airlifted to hospitals in Tenerife for further treatment.
Foreign Secretary Expresses Condolences
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper issued a statement expressing her sympathies: “My thoughts are with those affected by the tragic incident involving a bus carrying British holidaymakers in the Canary Islands. We are in touch with the local authorities and ready to support Brits and their families.” The UK government has confirmed it is supporting the family of the deceased British man and remains in contact with Spanish authorities.
Investigation into Possible Brake Failure
Police investigating the crash suspect that a brake failure may have caused the coach to veer off the road. Juan Luis Navarro, the island director of the general state administration, told journalists that the driver detected a problem with the braking system and attempted to counteract it. The bus then left the roadway and rolled down a slope before coming to a stop. Navarro noted: “Fortunately, it stopped before being thrown off the road. Otherwise it could have been much more serious.”
Background on La Gomera and Tourist Trips
La Gomera is a small, mountainous island with a resident population of around 23,000, contrasting sharply with the nearly one million inhabitants on neighbouring Tenerife. Unlike most of the Canary Islands, La Gomera lacks an international airport, making it a less mainstream destination for British travellers. The island is popular with hikers, particularly from Britain and Germany, and also attracts day-trippers from resorts in southwestern Tenerife such as Costa Adeje, Las Americas, and Los Cristianos.
These day trips typically involve an hour-long ferry voyage followed by a coach tour of scenic locations, including a stop for lunch. According to tour operator Holiday Property Bond, the bus involved in the crash was transporting British tourists to the airport for their return journey to the UK. Such excursions have operated for many years without incident, though the narrow mountain roads inherent to the terrain present elevated risks compared to flatter areas.
The Red Cross and civil protection units assisted at the scene, transporting those with less severe injuries to hospital. The incident has drawn significant attention due to the high number of British nationals affected, highlighting the challenges of emergency response in remote, rugged locations.
