British man, 77, dies after tourist bus crashes in Canary Islands

British Man Dies in Bus Accident on Canary Islands

A 77-year-old British tourist perished in a collision involving a bus that plunged into a ravine on La Gomera, one of Spain’s Canary Islands. The incident left 27 individuals injured, according to reports from El Mundo. The vehicle was en route to San Sebastián de La Gomera’s dock, where passengers were scheduled to board a ferry to Tenerife.

Emergency services confirmed 28 people were aboard the bus, comprising 27 British visitors and the driver. A Foreign Office representative expressed condolences, stating the agency was assisting the deceased man’s family. Initially, all injured were taken to Hospital Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, but later updates indicated 21 had been released, while three remained under medical care.

Details of the Crash

The accident occurred on the GM-2 road, a winding path through La Gomera’s rugged terrain. At 13:16 local time (13:16 BST), authorities received an alert that the bus had departed the road and fallen into a slope. El Mundo noted the vehicle descended from a height of approximately 10 meters, likely near a sharp hairpin bend. The response included three helicopters and five ambulances deployed to the scene.

“My thoughts are with those impacted by this devastating incident,” said Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper in a post on X, adding the government was coordinating with local officials to aid British travelers and their families.

President of the Canary Islands, Fernando Clavijo, extended his support to the victims and their loved ones, emphasizing the region’s commitment to emergency care.

La Gomera, the second smallest of the Canary Islands, is famed for its volcanic landscapes and hiking trails. The island’s ferry connection to Tenerife, the largest of the archipelago, takes about 50 minutes. The Canary Islands Tourism Observatory reported 3.83 million British visitors in 2025, with approximately 70,000 heading to La Gomera annually.