It's just gone thirty years ago since the Disaster Plan for the General Hospital,was implemented for the first time.
A luxury coach returning from the seaside resort of Enniscrone,with a group of Dublin holidaymakers,skidded off the road,a quarter of a mile from Westport on the Castlebar Road.The coach overturned and came to a stop just inches from the gable of the home of local farmer,Paddy Joe Foy,sweeping a diesel tank from its stand near the house.The accident happened at 6.55pm & the Plan swung into action.
A fleet of seven ambulances headed for the scene immediately after the alarm was raised & within 3/4's of an hour, all the injured were safely in Hospital.
Twenty-eight people were rushed to hospital but thankfully,they only received minor injuries.
Gardai at the scene commented that it was a 'miracle' that the coach or the diesel tank didn't catch fire.