A pensioner who narrowly escaped from a burning coach said if there had been any more passengers on board they could have died.
Close call - Jacqui Day and Ron Johnson escaped from a burning coach Picture: STEVE O'CONNELL
Last Thursday, the coach, taking 41 members of the Shoebury Conservative Club out for a day trip, burst into flames on the M25, near Waltham Abbey, between junctions 26 and 27.
Alerted to the smoke, driver Charles DeBond managed to park the coach on the hard shoulder and passengers scrambled to get out before the vehicle caught fire minutes later.
Ron Johnson, one of those on board, said passengers began suffering from effects of the smoke while getting out.
Mr Johnson, 73, from Eastcote Grove, Shoebury, said: "When we pulled over, the smoke was just a whisper. But soon the coach was filling up with smoke.
"I was choking with smoke. Had there been three or four people more, they could have been overcome by the time they were trying to leave the coach."
The cause of the fire has not been established and is still under investigation.
Published Tuesday July 20, 2004
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article