Members of a Newcastle family have told how their holiday in Turkey was left "ruined" after an open-top excursion bus they were travelling on flipped while taking part in a convoy of vehicles near Alanya.
What happened
Christopher Hartford, from Kenton, and his wife Lucy were on their first family trip abroad with their two sons when the incident took place. The family had been on an organised excursion that included several similar buses driving together and staging water fights between the vehicles.
The buses used for the trip were described as "Safari-style" with roll cages and no windows. Mr Hartford said his family were wearing seatbelts when the accident occurred and that the vehicle "must have flipped around three or four times" after a front wheel left the road.
"It felt like our front wheel went off the road and then the whole bus followed. We were hurtling on the gravel and the bus was jumping all over the place… The bus went over, the next thing I know, we were lying there on the side of the bus with our seatbelts holding us up."
Mr Hartford said the family were "shell-shocked" by the experience and were left with bruising and shock. He described the terrifying moments as the bus rolled and came to rest near a large tree the vehicle appeared about to hit.
Who was involved
| Family member | Age / role |
|---|---|
| Christopher Hartford | Father |
| Lucy Hartford | Mother |
| Harvey | 8-year-old son |
| Toby | 6-year-old son |
Local impact and context
The incident has resonated with families in Newcastle and the wider North East who travel on package excursions. It underlines risks that can arise on open-top or windowless sightseeing buses, particularly on routes that venture onto uneven or gravel surfaces.
Mr Hartford said the family had been participating in typical holiday activities — a convoy of around eight vehicles, a boat ride and a stop for lunch — before the crash. He recounted that some buses would pull to the side to allow other vehicles to approach, at which point passengers would engage in the planned water-fight activity.
- Vehicle type: Open-top, safari-style bus with roll cage.
- Safety measures used: Family wearing seatbelts.
- Aftermath: Family left shaken with bruising; holiday described as "ruined".
Practical considerations for travellers
While this account does not detail any emergency response or official investigation, the experience highlights a few practical points for families planning similar excursions abroad:
- Check the safety features of excursion vehicles, including the presence of seatbelts and secure seating.
- Ask the tour operator about the route terrain and driving practices when vehicles travel off-road or on gravel.
- Ensure travel insurance covers activities described as off-road or involving specialist vehicles.
The Hartford family's experience is a reminder that even routine day trips can turn hazardous, and that simple precautions such as using seatbelts can make a significant difference when accidents occur.
