Medics have described it as a miracle after 21 schoolchildren survived a minibus crash off a bridge near Pietermaritzburg on Monday.
The incident occurred when the driver reportedly lost control of the vehicle while crossing the KwaKhetha Bridge in iMpendle.
The minibus plunged approximately five metres down into a ravine below.
Craig Botha of KwaZulu Private Ambulance Service said the outcome could have been far worse.
“From the pictures we’ve seen and reports from ambulance crews and paramedics, the children are exceptionally lucky to have escaped with only minor to severe injuries,” said Botha.
“We usually expect severe, if not fatal, injuries from an accident like that.”
Community Comes to the Rescue
Local residents were among the first on the scene, rushing to help pull the children from the wreckage before emergency services arrived.
“Thankfully, most of them had minor injuries – bumps, scrapes, and cuts,” Botha added.
“Only a few sustained more serious injuries, such as suspected broken bones and head trauma.”
All injured children were transported to local hospitals for further treatment.
Authorities are investigating the cause of the crash, and it remains unclear whether vehicle condition, road surface, or driver error played a role.
