An off-duty nurse who rushed to help the injured of a schoolbus crash has told how her daughter should have been on the vehicle.

Kate Harrison was one of the first on the scene after the single-decker, carrying pupils to the Stanway School, was in collision with two vans at Birch on Tuesday.

The accident and emergency nurse, from Greenfield Houses, Birch, said her 11-year-old Luka normally used the service but that day got a lift to school instead.

"Luka had had a bit of a late night because we had gone out for meal to celebrate her grandmother's 60th birthday," said Mrs Harrison, 36.

"Instead of her getting on the bus, I decided to give her a lift so she could have an extra half-hour in bed."

As they drove along the A1022, the pair came across the crash, at Maldon Road, close to Hutton builders' yard.

"The children were all off the bus and although they were very shocked, it was clear none of them were seriously hurt," said the mother-of-two.

She immediately went to help a van driver who was seriously injured and trapped in the wreckage.

Working alongside a paramedic, Mrs Harrison administered first aid before the full emergency services arrived.

Shrugging off the notion of being a hero, she said: "You don't think about it. You just go to see if you can help."

She added: "It was frustrating because there was not the equipment I am used to having at the hospital. It was just a case of doing what we could until the emergency services arrived."

Steven Kipling, 46, of Hillview Close, Rowhedge, who was driving the Renault Traffic van, received serious head and internal injuries.

His passenger Shane Quentin, 28, from Holly Way, Stanway, suffered a shoulder injury.

Bus driver Andrew McCutcheon and Ford Transit driver Russell Moore, 33, of Wash Close, Lawford, were unhurt.

"It is horrific to think what could have happened with all these children on the bus."

She said while her thoughts were with the injured van driver, she "thanked God" the children were not seriously hurt.

"It was a relief that Luka was not on the bus and she was obviously very worried about her friends."

Mrs Harrison added that if her daughter had have taken her usual trip to school, she would not have been there to help at the scene.

A hospital spokeswoman yesterday described Mr Kipling's condition as stable.

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