WATCH: 'Miracle' as schoolchildren escape serious injuries in Limerick bus collision

IT WAS "nothing short of a miracle" that no one was injured in a school bus collision in Limerick this Tuesday morning. 

The incident happened at approximately 8:20am on the R513 between Caherconlish and Hospital. 

The bus left the road and landed on its side in the ditch.

Councillor Eddie Ryan of Galbally said it is “nothing short of a miracle” that there wasn’t half a dozen students badly hurt in the overturned school bus. He said it occurred “only feet” away from where a bus overturned on the same school route in 2018.

“I want to praise the older students who acted very quickly and calmly in the circumstances to successfully get the younger students out the back of the bus.

"The main thing is that nobody was seriously hurt or worse. You can imagine all the students on the right hand side of the bus went over to the left side when the bus overturned.

"It’s nothing short of a miracle that there wasn't half a dozen students badly hurt,” said Cllr Ryan, who also praised the fast response of emergency responders including Limerick Fire and Rescue Service, gardai, paramedics from the National Ambulance Service, and the actions of teachers at the scene.

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Limerick Live understands that brave sixth-year students came to the aid of younger children and assisted them off the bus via an emergency door.

A number of teachers travelling behind the school bus also rushed to the bus and helped students to exit the stricken vehicle as safely as possible.

A number of ambulances were at the scene as well as three units from Limerick Fire Service but no serious injuries have been reported. 

The road was closed for some time as gardaí dealt with the incident.