One British tourist dead and over 14 injured after coach falls into ravine in Canary Islands

A coach carrying British holidaymakers left the road and fell into a ravine on the island of La Gomera in the Canary Islands on Thursday April 10 at approximately 01:15pm local time, according to emergency services and local reporting. The incident prompted a large-scale emergency response involving multiple agencies.

The vehicle was travelling along the GM-2 road when it left the carriageway on a mountainous stretch. It descended into a ravine below the roadway, triggering an immediate rescue operation. Emergency services confirmed that passengers were on board at the time of the accident, with casualties reported shortly after response teams arrived.

Location of the Incident 

The crash occurred on the GM-2, a key route connecting San Sebastián de La Gomera with the southern part of the island, including Alajeró. The road passes through steep and winding terrain, with sections characterised by sharp bends and changes in elevation.

At the point of the incident, the coach left the roadway and entered a ravine beneath the road surface. The surrounding landscape consists of steep slopes and uneven ground, which significantly restricted direct access for emergency responders and required specialised rescue techniques.

The geography of the area meant that recovery operations had to be carefully coordinated to reach both the vehicle and passengers safely.

Emergency Response

Emergency coordination centre 112 Canarias activated fire services, ambulance units, the Guardia Civil and medical teams shortly after the alert was received. The response was immediate due to the severity of the crash and the difficulty of the terrain.

A medical helicopter was deployed to assist with evacuation because ground access to the ravine was limited. Rescue teams established controlled descent routes to reach passengers, many of whom required assistance to be brought back to road level.

Once extracted, injured passengers were transferred either by ambulance or helicopter depending on the severity of their condition. Air evacuations were used for the most serious cases, which required transfer to hospitals outside La Gomera.

Casualties

Authorities confirmed that one person died at the scene. The victim was reported in local coverage as a 73-year-old British woman, with formal identification carried out before public confirmation.

At least 20 passengers have been injured, with injuries ranging from minor to critical. Several required immediate hospital care, while others were stabilised at the scene before transport.

The injured have been taken primarily to Hospital Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe in San Sebastián de La Gomera. Those with more severe injuries were transferred to hospitals in Tenerife for specialist treatment.

Passengers and Vehicle

The coach was carrying British holidaymakers at the time of the crash, with around 27 passengers reported on board. Emergency services confirmed that all individuals were accounted for following the rescue operation.

The driver survived the incident. However, no official statement has been released regarding their, condition or involvement following the crash. Authorities have not confirmed further details about the nationalities of those on board.

Investigation

The Guardia Civil has opened an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash. At this stage, no official cause has been established.

Investigators are examining multiple factors, including the mechanical condition of the coach, road conditions at the time of the incident, driver actions before the vehicle left the carriageway, and possible environmental influences such as visibility on the route.

The coach has been recovered from the ravine to allow technical inspection. Evidence gathered from the vehicle, along with witness accounts and road assessments, will form part of the ongoing inquiry.

Road Closure and Disruption

The GM-2 was closed for several hours following the incident to allow emergency services to carry out rescue and recovery operations safely. The closure affected traffic flow across key routes on the island.

Diversions were implemented to redirect vehicles onto alternative roads while operations continued. Authorities prioritised access for emergency crews and maintained restrictions until the area was secured and cleared.

The road was reopened once recovery work had been completed and safety checks were carried out.

Medical and Family Support

Hospitals in La Gomera and Tenerife were placed on alert shortly after the crash to prepare for incoming casualties. Medical teams were mobilised rapidly to manage both emergency treatment and inter-island transfers.

Support services were also made available to survivors and families. This included psychological assistance and coordination support for relatives seeking information about passengers involved in the incident.

Local authorities worked alongside emergency services to ensure communication channels remained open throughout the response phase.

Ongoing Situation

Authorities have confirmed that updates will be issued as the investigation continues and further technical assessments are completed. The focus remains on establishing the sequence of events that led to the coach leaving the carriageway.

At present, confirmed information is limited to the time and location of the incident, casualty figures, and the ongoing investigation by the Guardia Civil. No official conclusions have been released regarding the cause of the crash.