British man dead and 27 hospitalised after tourist bus plunges into ravine in Canary Islands

The bus carrying 24 adults and three children crashed on the island of La Gomera, leaving four people seriously injured and one man dead.

The Foreign Office confirmed on Friday evening that the man who died in the crash was a British national.

A Foreign Office spokesperson said: “We are supporting the family of a British man who died in the bus accident in the Canary Islands and are in contact with the local authorities.”

Emergency services were deployed to the scene of the crash off the GM-2 road in San Sebastian de La Gomera, on the island of La Gomera, on the east coast on Friday, the 112 Canarias official account posted on X.

The vehicle reportedly rolled down the hill, near a mountain tunnel and a hairpin bend high above rocky cliffs.

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A 73-year-old man and a 42-year-old man who suffered traumatic injuries were taken to Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe Hospital in San Sebastian de la Gomera, before both were transferred by helicopter to hospitals in Tenerife.

Two seriously injured people were taken to Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe Hospital, along with 23 others with minor injuries.

The sightseers – all British – were heading to San Sebastian de la Gomera to go on a boat tour.

In a post on X, Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said her thoughts are with those affected by the “tragic” incident, adding the Government is in touch with local authorities and “ready to support” Britons and their families.

She said: “My thoughts are with those affected by the tragic incident involving a bus carrying British holidaymakers in the Canary Islands.

“We are in touch with the local authorities & ready to support Brits & their families, who can contact the FCDO on +44 20 7008 5000 or +34 928 262 508.”

Just after 1pm, emergency services received reports a bus had come off the road and slid down a slope.

Firefighters, police, the Spanish Red Cross and several ambulances, including an air ambulance, were among the emergency responders who attended to the British tourists and driver.

Emergency services said: “The Canary Islands Emergency Service has sent to the scene of the accident a medicalized helicopter, five ambulances and a medical team including nurses.”

At 2pm, a state of alert issued by the Canary Islands government in response to the incident came into force.

Canary Islands president Fernando Clavijo said on X: “Following the accident of a bus reported in La Gomera and the work of the emergency teams who are intervening at this moment.

“My support to the victims and their families”

La Gomera has a road network of steep and potentially dangerous roads.