HOLIDAYMAKERS who survived the A83 crash have described how a freak gust of wind 'punched' their coach into a barrel roll, sending it careering down an embankment.

 

The 52 strong party from Kent had just travelled past the summit of the Rest and Be Thankful in Argyll when strong winds blew the vehicle off the road, leaving 19 people injured, including five seriously.

Mick Long, 66, said his wife Carol, 62, was ejected through a window onto the grass through the window after they suddenly heard a loud bang, the skylights blew out and the coach careered off the road on Thursday afternoon.

The coach, operated by Lochs and Glens Holidays, landed upright a few feet away from Loch Restil.

It was en route to Inveraray, when the accident happened and 19 people were taken to hospital. In addition to the most seriously injured, who are being treated at the South General in Glasgow and the Royal Alexandra in Paisley, others were described as 'walking wounded.'

Mr Long, who suffered a broken collar bone and needed stitches, said his wife is still recovering from her injuries in Paisley.

He added: "She went through the coach window, she suffered a couple of

cracked ribs and lacerations, she looked just like Carrie, from the film, with all the blood on her.

"She has just had a scan and then she is hoping she will be able to come back from hospital."

Speaking from the Loch Awe Hotel, where the party are staying, Mr Long added: "I am recovering from a fractured pelvis after falling

through a shed roof five weeks ago and now I am recovering from a fractured collar bone, from the coach accident, they also had to stitch up my ear too."

But Mr Long said: "I think we were all very lucky to get out of that one, another roll and we would have been in the water, it doesn't bear thinking about."

The first indication that something was wrong was when passengers heard a loud bang. Mr Long said: "The wind took the skylights off the roof of the coach, the wind came across and it just punched us right over.

"The driver did her best but nobody could have held that. When you are in that situation there is nothing you can do. You can't hold on. Your body is being thrown all over the place.

"It rolled over and it was like being in a washing machine. I was wearing a seat belt but I ended up on the floor.

I couldn't find my wife and then I looked out and she was sitting on the bank. She had gone out of the window."

Mr Long, helped by another man, then kicked the side door of the coach open to get out to his wife and he said: We picked her up with help from some other people."

People passing by in cars stopped and went down the embankment to help, straight after the crash. They vacated their vehicles so that injured and shocked passengers could sit in the warmth until the emergency services arrived shortly afterwards.

Most people were taken to the local hall in Arrochar to be assessed for what medical treatment they needed.

Mr Long and fellow coach passenger Chris Doyle praised the emergency services and the drivers who stopped to help.

Mr Doyle, 39, whose 89 year old grandfather received rib and leg injuries in the accident, said: "Every single person

was trying to help, these people really did everything they could, we can't thank them enough."

Mr Long said: "We were sitting in the cars watching all the firemen and the others and they had to walk at a 45 degree

angle on the road, the wind was so strong."

Recalling the accident, Mr Doyle (CORRECT) said: "There was a loud bang and I thought we had been hit by a car. I looked round to the back and that is when I think it came over.

"I felt it going once, next thing I remember the seat had gone and I was sitting on the floor. I checked myself and I wasn't bleeding."