Scotland coach crash: Five seriously injured and 25 'walking wounded' as tourist coach crashes on country's west coast

Five people have been seriously injured and many are ‘walking wounded’

The view of the Rest And Be Thankful Scotland (Wikimedia Commons )

Five people have been seriously injured and another 25 left hurt after a coach carrying tourists crashed on the west coast of Scotland.

Police, fire and helicopter rescue crews have been sent to the scene of the accident. A total of 32 people are understood to have been on board. Police said those who have been seriously injured are not suffering from life-threatening injuries.

The crash happened on the A83 near the Rest And Be Thankful in Argyll at around 2:10pm today.

The BBC reports that emergency services had to cut off the side of the coach in order to free the passengers inside.

Emergency services are working to confirm the number of people injured and the extent of any injuries, a spokesperson for Scotland Police said. The road has been closed and local diversions are now in place.

Initial reports suggested the coach had overturned, but pictures emerging from the scene on social media have showed the coach standing upright on an embankment off the A83.

Sky News reports the Ministry of Defence sent a Royal Navy helicopter from HMS Gannet to evacuate people to hospital.

The most seriously hurt have been taken to the Southern General hospital in Glasgow and the Royal Alexandria Hospital in Paisley.

A spokesman for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said: “Crews from across Argyll are at the scene. Firefighters are working closely with police and ambulance to help people who were on board a coach that overturned.”

The Scottish Ambulance Service said ambulance crews supported by officers, a Special Operations Team, an air ambulance helicopter and two emergency medical retrieval teams are working alongside the police and five service.

Additional reporting by PA