This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/middle_east/6164337.stm
The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 8 | Version 9 |
|---|---|
| Third Briton died in Jeddah crash | Third Briton died in Jeddah crash |
| (4 days later) | |
| Three Britons are now known to have died in a coach crash in Saudi Arabia, the Foreign Office has said. | Three Britons are now known to have died in a coach crash in Saudi Arabia, the Foreign Office has said. |
| A total of 34 other people were also hurt in the crash, which happened early on Saturday, 55 miles north of Jeddah at the port of Rabegh. | A total of 34 other people were also hurt in the crash, which happened early on Saturday, 55 miles north of Jeddah at the port of Rabegh. |
| The coach was carrying pilgrims from Medina to Mecca, the Foreign Office said. It is not yet known how the accident happened. | |
| Further details are yet to be released but next of kin have been informed. | Further details are yet to be released but next of kin have been informed. |
| Two of the three fatalities were identified as UK citizens on Saturday and the Foreign Office later confirmed the third person to die was also British. | Two of the three fatalities were identified as UK citizens on Saturday and the Foreign Office later confirmed the third person to die was also British. |
| The passengers - who are believed to have been on a pilgrimage package visit - included two children who were not seriously hurt. | The passengers - who are believed to have been on a pilgrimage package visit - included two children who were not seriously hurt. |
| It is thought the group also included people from London and Bolton and foreign nationals married to Britons. | It is thought the group also included people from London and Bolton and foreign nationals married to Britons. |
| "At this stage we do not know how it happened or how many of those injured are British citizens," the spokesman said. | "At this stage we do not know how it happened or how many of those injured are British citizens," the spokesman said. |
| Diplomats from the British consulate in the Red Sea port of Jeddah were at the scene of the crash offering consular support to those involved. | Diplomats from the British consulate in the Red Sea port of Jeddah were at the scene of the crash offering consular support to those involved. |
| The British consul general in Jeddah, Gerard Russell, said he had visited the injured, who are in a local hospital. | The British consul general in Jeddah, Gerard Russell, said he had visited the injured, who are in a local hospital. |
| "About 28 are still in hospital," he said. | "About 28 are still in hospital," he said. |
| "I've been visiting them today. A few are in a serious condition. It seems the hospital staff have pulled out all the stops to look after them. | "I've been visiting them today. A few are in a serious condition. It seems the hospital staff have pulled out all the stops to look after them. |
| "It's a small hospital, not used to handling things of this scale. But obviously it's a very tragic incident and a lot of the people here are very distressed. | "It's a small hospital, not used to handling things of this scale. But obviously it's a very tragic incident and a lot of the people here are very distressed. |
| "I've spent the past few hours talking to them and trying to find out what we could do to help them." | "I've spent the past few hours talking to them and trying to find out what we could do to help them." |
| 'Dangerous roads' | 'Dangerous roads' |
| Mr Russell later told Sky News that around 24,000 Britons were expected to make visit Mecca and the journey had risks. | |
| "It is a very large number. It's larger than any other western nation, basically," he said. | "It is a very large number. It's larger than any other western nation, basically," he said. |
| "There are incidents every year. There are millions of people who gather in one city, essentially, and at times in one small place within that city. | "There are incidents every year. There are millions of people who gather in one city, essentially, and at times in one small place within that city. |
| "It poses a lot of risks. The authorities do take quite a lot of steps to address it. It's never enough to prevent some incidents from happening. | "It poses a lot of risks. The authorities do take quite a lot of steps to address it. It's never enough to prevent some incidents from happening. |
| "The roads here are quite dangerous and there are a lot of fatalities every year, in Hajj season and out of Hajj season." | "The roads here are quite dangerous and there are a lot of fatalities every year, in Hajj season and out of Hajj season." |
| Mr Russell said the next of kin of both victims had been informed of the deaths. | Mr Russell said the next of kin of both victims had been informed of the deaths. |
| This year's Hajj takes place between 29 December and 3 January. | This year's Hajj takes place between 29 December and 3 January. |
Have you been affected by this incident? If you have any information you would like to share with the BBC you can do so using the form below: | Have you been affected by this incident? If you have any information you would like to share with the BBC you can do so using the form below: |