Portsmouth tourist relives 'near-death' experience in Mexico as bus rolled towards 1000m drop

A tourist from Portsmouth has told of his near-death experience in Mexico after bus almost rolled off a 1,000m cliff into a canyon.

The group of backpackers cheated death when their tour bus was stopped by a single bollard - as it rolled towards a terrifying drop.

They paid for a tour of the Sumidero Canyon in Chiapas, southeastern Mexico and, after walking around to take in the view, boarded their tour bus at the top of a steep drop - when it started sliding backwards.

The group say they feared they were headed for the canyon and many of them started diving off the bus headfirst to save themselves.

Luckily, the bus hit a bollard and came to a stop before going over the edge.

But many of the passengers have been left traumatised by the near-death ordeal, with some suffering physical injuries and needing hospital treatment.

James Gamble, 30, from Portsmouth, said: “I honestly thought I was going to die. It was hands-down the most terrifying experience of my life. Everyone was diving off the bus headfirst, thinking we were headed for the canyon.

"I just imagined the bus tilting backwards with nothing I could do. It was horrific. I didn't stop shaking for an hour afterwards; people who weren't even on the bus were crying and having panic attacks."

James says that one passenger, Madeleine Glen, had tried to grab the handbrake as the bus was rolling, but it was already up.

Several passengers were hospitalised following the terrifying incident in July after injuring themselves fleeing the bus.

Sophie Badelt, 22, from Switzerland, hit her head on a parked car as she dove from the moving bus and was bleeding profusely.

A British nurse from another tour of the canyon helped to bandage her head while they waited for an ambulance.

Brit Hugo Evans, 20, was also injured in the ordeal and bandaged at the scene by paramedics.

He said: "I dove out of the van, headfirst - that was the only option. I was in a blind panic. I thought we were going to die for sure. I hit my head on the floor and there was a lot of blood. I thought we were headed for the cliff.

"Everyone was freaking out when Sophie was screaming... She was drenched in blood. It was terrifying."

The tour left on July 9 and cost 600 Mexican Pesos (£25.66) per person.

All the passengers have since been refunded, and Sophie says that she has been compensated for her medical bills after weeks of back and forth.

There were three Dutch passengers; Britt van Engelen, 28, Yesol Sihn 29, and Floris van Neer, 30.

Also onboard was Belgian tourist Hanne, 23, and Australian pair Garrison Hamlin, 28, and Brodie Hampson, 28.

James, a former journalist, says he stayed on the bus until it came to a halt and that he has been left shaken by the ordeal.

He added: "We took some photos of the canyon at the viewpoint and were told to get back on the bus. The van was parked on a hill and I was sat near the back. We all piled back on the bus and, as the last people were getting on, we started rolling backwards.

"Maddy tried the handbrake, but it was already up and panic set in within seconds. Then there was an almighty crash as we hit the bollard and the five of us still on darted off the bus.

"The first thing we saw was Sophie lying on the floor, crying desperately for help and with blood seeping out of her head.”

The tour operator was approached for comment.