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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Milica Cosic

Holidaymakers stranded after coach became trapped on ferry in shock accident

Holidaymakers were left fearing for their lives after their coach was left 'hanging' between a ramp and the ceiling of a ferry.

The Dutch tour bus was driving onto a P&O Ferries ship 'Pride of Kent' in Calais, northern France when the ramp was raised and it became wedged.

It left the vehicle trapped in the air, with its forward wheels completely hanging off the ground.

Taking to Twitter to share his horror at what happened, Former P&O worker John Lansdown posted photos.

Images show the Almei Tours coach crushed against the deck head.

P&O Ferries has been embroiled in scandal recently after it sacked 800 of its workers, and reportedly replaced them with cheaper labour in March.

John tweeted: "This accident comes five months after DP World UAE-owned P&O Ferries sacked 800 experienced seafarers and replaced them with cheap overseas workers."

Labour MP for Hull, Karl Turner, agreed, went further to suggest that the "costly incident" could have been avoided if the company had not fired its crew.

He tweeted: "Now this looks like yet another costly incident aboard the Pride of Kent as she was loading at Calais.

"Let’s hope nobody was injured. There is a reason we need experienced crews sailing these ferries."

And others took to slam P&O Ferries, with one saying: "Surprised it's took this long to show the value of experienced workers."

While another wrote: "Look what happens when safety is put second to profit.

"And ironically it will cause a loss of profit, when accidents destroy companies."

P&O Ferries confirmed there was a "minor incident" involving a coach at the French port.

A spokesperson for P&O Ferries said: “We are writing in response to the outrageous and misleading claims made by some individuals regarding an incident on Saturday, in which a bus was damaged in Calais when boarding one of our vessels. The bus in question was in the control of port authorities at the time of the incident.”

“We can state categorically that what happened was not related in any way shape or form to changes in our crewing model. Although we are never complacent, we have hired high-quality, experienced seafarers who have familiarised themselves with all our vessels and are working to the highest standards.”

“To suggest otherwise is grossly irresponsible and has the effect of undermining our business, which employs 2,200 people across Britain, and on which hundreds of thousands of tourists are relying for their holidays this summer.”

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