Four Britons hurt in Alps coach crash

Four British tourists have been injured, one seriously, when a coach crashed in the French Alps.

A man thought to be the group leader is being treated for severe head injuries. The Foreign Office said the accident happened in the early hours of the morning when the coach, carrying about 45 Britons, slid off an icy road. A spokesman said it happened when the tourist party was travelling from La Grave, in the Isere region of south-east France, to Grenoble airport. He said it occurred on the border of the Isere and Hautes-Alpes areas.

Reports suggest the vehicle skidded on the icy surface and crashed into a rock near the town of Mizoen. Firemen at the scene of the accident said the seriously injured man was flown by helicopter to hospital. He is understood to be receiving treatment at Grenoble University Hospital.

The tourists were travelling with SkiPlan, a Brighton-based tour operator which specialises in skiing.

Patricia Couchman, the company's director, said in addition to the man who was seriously injured, "two other adults were treated in hospital for suspected injuries but have been cleared by the hospital".

"All other party members were fit to travel home," she added.

The road from Grenoble, which follows the Romanche valley, leads to a number of the most famous skiing resorts in France, including Les Deux Alpes and Alpe d'Huez.

Whatever the circumstances, practical accident support, compensation claim assistance and legal advice is available free of charge from our expert First Response team on freephone 0800 037 1066.

Free legal advice direct to your inbox: Ask Law Answers your compensation claim legal question.