Brit tourists saved by single bollard as bus rolled towards ‘terrifying’ 3,000ft drop after crash in Mexico

A GROUP of backpackers narrowly cheated death when their tour bus rolled towards a terrifying 3280ft drop. The group was on a tour of the Sumidero Canyon in Chiapas, southeastern Mexico, when the frightening ordeal occurred. The 3,280ft drop from the gorge Credit: James Gamble / SWNS Several passengers were treated at the scene for their injuries Credit: James Gamble / SWNS The near-death experience left one tourist left “drenched in blood” and multiple people requiring medical attention. James Gamble, 30, a former journalist from Portsmouth, said: “I honestly thought I was going to die. It was hands-down the most terrifying experience of my life. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! “It was horrific. I didn’t stop shaking for an hour afterwards; people who weren’t even on the bus were crying and having panic attacks.” In a stroke of luck, the bus hit a single bollard and came to a stop before going over the edge. In July, the group had ascended the mountain to admire the view before boarding the bus again at the top of the gorge. As the bus began sliding backward toward the canyon, the passengers dived out headfirst, fearing for their lives. The single bollard that miraculously saved the tour bus Credit: James Gamble / SWNS A young man was treated for a head injury Credit: James Gamble / SWNS James noted that another passenger, Madeleine Glen, tried to pull the handbrake as the bus began to roll, but found it was already up. Despite the fortunate outcome, many passengers were traumatised by the near-death experience. Most read in The Sun Hugo Evans, a 20-year-old Brit, was injured after jumping from the bus. He said: “I dove out of the van, headfirst – that was the only option. I was in a blind panic. I thought we were going to die for sure. “I hit my head on the floor and there was a lot of blood. I thought we were headed for the cliff.” Sophie Badelt, a 22-year-old from Switzerland, hit her head on a parked car as she dove from the moving bus and was bleeding profusely. Hugo added: “Everyone was freaking out when Sophie was screaming… She was drenched in blood. It was terrifying.” A British nurse from another tour of the canyon helped to bandage her head while they waited for an ambulance. The group atop the gorge Credit: James Gamble / SWNS All passengers have been refunded Credit: James Gamble / SWNS Several passengers were hospitalised after injuring themselves jumping from the bus. All passengers have been refunded 600 Mexican Pesos (£25.66) for the cost of the tour. After weeks of back and forth, Sophie says she has finally received compensation for her medical bills. Among the tour group were three dutch passengers; Britt van Engelen, 28, Yesol Sihn 29, and Floris van Neer, 30. Also onboard was Belgian tourist Hanne, 23, and Australian pair Garrison Hamlin, 28, and Brodie Hampson, 28. Comment now