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Bus submerged in Strangford Lough following crash

An Ulsterbus was left submerged in Strangford Lough after it crashed onto the beach in Co Down. Picture by Mal McCann
An Ulsterbus was left submerged in Strangford Lough after it crashed onto the beach in Co Down. Picture by Mal McCann An Ulsterbus was left submerged in Strangford Lough after it crashed onto the beach in Co Down. Picture by Mal McCann

A WINDING road overlooking the shores of Strangford Lough was yesterday the scene of a dramatic ordeal for a bus driver whose vehicle smashed through the sea wall before coming to a stop on a beach.

The man scrambled from his vehicle after it crashed onto the beach when it left the Portaferry Road near Newtownards.

The Ulsterbus ended up just feet away from the water.

But within hours the bus was submerged in the sea water due to the incoming tide.

Photographers captured images of the bus in the water before a recovery operation was launched to retrieve the vehicle.

Amid high winds and rain, rescue workers - including divers - winched the bus towards the perimeter wall along the shoreline before a crane was brought in to lift it onto the road.

The dramatic scenes had unfolded around 6.30am yesterday when the driver was making his way along the winding road near Newtownards.

It has been reported the vehicle, which had been travelling in dark, rainy and windy conditions, may have skidded in surface water lying on the road.

The bus driver, believed to be in his mid-30s, was taken to hospital for treatment to minor injuries.

Translink said no passengers were on board the bus and no other vehicles were involved in the collision.

The bus had been due to collect schoolchildren later in the morning.