HEROIC quick-thinking by a handful of Aquinas College students prevented a disaster on a regular afternoon bus drop-off last month.
The contracted school bus was carrying 27 students when the driver suffered a medical episode outside the college on July 8.
A handful of students leapt into action and steered the bus to a safe stop, while attending to the wellbeing of the bus driver and the safety of all passengers.
In a ceremony recognising the efforts of the students, Aquinas College, Ashmore, principal Marcus Richardson praised the efforts of the students.
He said it was an opportunity to celebrate all the students who showed courage and a great presence of mind in the face of a challenging incident.
“Our school values are faith, courage, compassion and belonging and I’m really proud of how all our students conducted themselves and intervened to support someone in need,” he said.
“Today we gathered and reflected on the goodness in our young people and our community– with this being one great instance of our staff and students living out our vision to be the difference in our world.”
The Queensland Police Service and Queensland Ambulance Service both expressed their appreciation to the students for their actions on the day.
QAS senior operations supervisor John Nolan praised the students’ courageous actions and said their efforts saved those on board from serious harm.
“It was a brave moment for these young teenagers to immediately react and prevent what was shaping to be a disastrous crash for the passengers on the bus and other motorists and pedestrians on the road,” he said.
“Everyone is safe today because of their intervention and they should be proud.”
QPS crash investigator Acting Sergeant Shona Hartles said she was grateful that the bus incident had the outcome that it did.
“I commend the bravery of the students who acted selflessly, and without hesitation, and in doing so potentially averted a far more serious incident,” she said.
“Those students did themselves, their families and their communities proud that day.”
Brisbane Catholic Education executive director Dr Sally Towns, Queensland Police Service Coomera forensic crash investigator Acting Sergeant Shona Hartles and Queensland Ambulance Service Gold Coast Region district director Justin Payne all joined the college in recognising the students.