Several children to undergo amputations after Melbourne school bus crash
Seven school children are in serious condition - with one reportedly in intensive care - in the wake of a horror bus crash in Melbourne.
Their nightmare began when their school bus collided with a truck on its way back from Exford Primary School, rolling when it should have been dropping the 45 kids onboard home.
And when Royal Children’s Hospital Chief Executive Officer Bernadette McDonald provided an update for those following the story, she noted that she was surprised all of the children had survived - though their struggle was far from over.
They were taken to the Royal Melbourne hospital, all of them aged between the years of five and 11. Two were discharged, but seven remain, with each of their conditions serious.
“The children have suffered multiple and traumatic injuries,” she explained, “including partial and complete amputations of arms, multiple crushed limb injuries, severe lacerations to head and body, head injuries, glass shard injuries and three patients are currently receiving spinal support.
"Some of these patients will require returns to theatres and multiple surgeries in the coming days and coming weeks."
Specialist surgeons - vascular and microplastic - had been called in to help treat the children, McDonald added, as “you would understand with these sorts of injuries very small vessels need to be repaired and reattached.”
McDonald went on to note that they were working hard to provide trauma support and care to the families and children, and that “the parents are obviously traumatised.
“They had to wait until the early hours of the morning to be reunited with their children."
Natalie Hutchins, Victoria’s Education Minister, also spoke out to say counsellors were being arranged for the school, and that their thoughts were with all those involved, “especially those students who were injured and the families this tragedy has touched.
"We acknowledge the response from the principal and staff at Exford Primary School, who all attended the scene and ensured every child involved was supported and looked after.
"During this difficult time, we request that the community respect the privacy of the school community and all those affected within it."
In contrast to the children - who face a long and difficult road to recovery - the bus driver suffered only minor injuries.
As for the truck driver, the 49 year old stopped at the scene and is assisting police with their inquiries, with the Major Collision Investigation Unit’s detectives leading the case.
So far, Victoria’s Police Superintendent Michael Cruse has revealed that the bus was reportedly trying to turn right at an intersection when the truck collided with its rear, and that “significant” damage was caused in a scene he described as nothing short of “chaotic”.
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