German coach crash claims third victim

A secretary at a Norfolk school has become the third victim of Saturday's coach crash in Germany.

Jane Irving, 53, a mother-of-two who was seriously injured in the crash lost her battle for life in the early hours of Monday morning. Her close family were with her in Cologne when she died.

The school's head teacher, Mr Jim Hawkins, said her injuries from the crash were severe and the surgeons and medical staff worked tirelessly in trying to save her life.

"Her injuries from the crash were severe and there was ultimately nothing that could be done to help her," said Mr Hawkins.

"Jane was at the heart of Norwich school life as the secretary to the common room - responsible for the day-to-day support of all senior teachers.

"Most secretaries work for one person; she worked for more than 80. She did so with boundless energy, liveliness and always a sense of fun."

A 14-year-old Suffolk schoolboy Stuart Dines who attended Thomas Mills High School and the relief coach driver, who has not yet been named but who is understood to be from Norfolk, were killed in the accident on Saturday near Cologne.

The schoolchildren have returned home where over the school's mid-term break a support network of counsellors has been put in place to help them come to terms with teh tragedy.

It is believed one coach, which was carrying 55 pupils and six members of staff from Thomas Mills High School, had pulled over on the hard shoulder with a puncture.

A lorry is thought to have collided with the stationary coach before jack knifing and hitting a second coach carrying 36 pupils and five members of staff from Norwich School.

German authorities are investigating the incident.

(CD/SP)