South Africa bus crash victims' bodies arrive home

The bodies of three students killed in a bus crash in South Africa were brought back to the UK today, their college said.

Dan Greenwood, 22, Eleanor Payne, and Sammi Lake, both 19, died after the bus they were travelling in overturned on its way from Swaziland to Nelspruit last Thursday.

They were part of a group from Brooksby Melton College in Leicestershire, who were on a wildlife study tour in the country as part of a foundation degree in animal management and welfare.

The college confirmed the three dead students' bodies had been brought back to the UK by their families.

A statement said: "Members of the party still out in South Africa are making positive progress and all their families are now with them.

"A member of the college staff will remain in South Africa until the last students return."

They said the college and Brooksby Church were open for students and relatives to leave flowers and condolences and a support service had been put in place for everyone affected at the college.

"We are still awaiting confirmation on when more students can fly back to the UK this week once medical clearance to fly has been received," the college added.

Yesterday, tour operator Chameleon Worldwide said it was the first fatal accident in its 18-year history and an investigation had been launched into exactly what had happened.

Sammi Lake's family described the teenager as a compassionate and loving girl, who loved animals and children and had always wanted to go to Africa.