'DUCK' ENDS UP IN DOCK

31 rescued after amphibious tour bus sinks in Liverpool dock

By Luke Cross
Saturday 15 Jun 2013 6:07 pm

Thirty-one people have been accounted for after another amphibious bus sank in Liverpool’s Albert Dock. 

Thirty-one passengers had to be rescued with some taken to hospital after an amphibious tour bus sank in the Albert Dock in Liverpool.

One of the fleet of Yellow Duckmarine tour buses began sinking just before 4pm on Saturday in Salthouse Dock, at the front of the Albert Dock complex.

One eye witness told the BBC that it took just four minutes for the craft to sink.

The mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson tweeted: ‘Albert Dock incident: police confirm 31 people entered the dock, 31 people have been accounted for. Everyone ok, some people still in hospital.’

Chief fire officer Dan Stephens said firefighters had been working with police, ambulance and coastguard to account for everyone on board.

Firefighters rescued three adults from the water, a spokesman for Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service said.

Some people are understood to have been airlifted from the scene.

There have been mixed reports on the number taken to hospital, but an ambulance spokeswoman said just one man was hospitalised as a precaution. Others were treated for shock.

The North West Ambulance Service spokeswoman confirmed there had been no fatalities and that 31 people had been rescued.

She added the incident was now being ‘scaled back’.

She added: ‘We are unaware that there is anybody unaccounted for but police are continuing to search the water just to see if there is anybody else affected and we are on stand-by.’

Mr Stephens said: ‘We have had assistance from a number of agencies on scene. We are working with police, ambulance and coastguard to account for everyone on board.

‘All firefighters on Merseyside are trained in still water rescue to allow them to safely enter canals and lakes and dock areas, such as in this incident, to help rescue anyone in need.’

It is the second incident with the fleet this year. One in March led to the suspension of the buses’ permission to go into the water as an investigation was carried out.

The Queen also rode on one of the Yellow Duckmarine buses during a visit at the time of her Diamond Jubilee.

Mr Anderson would not be drawn on the future of the yellow vessels until he knew everybody involved in the latest incident was safe.

He tweeted: ‘Albert Dock Duck incident, look I will not make any official comment on future of these ducks until we know people are all ok+accounted for.’

I have been on one of these 'ducks' in various places, the US, Dublin etc and they are fun - normally!!   Here is the one on the Danube in Budapest.     LL

I hope they all have their stomachs pumped after landing in the Mersey....