A double-decker bus hit a bridge in Swanscombe, killing one and seriously injuring three others but thankfully – for those involved – it was a training exercise.

The exercise in Swanscombe saw 20 firefighters from Swanscombe and Dartford Fire Stations, as well as a specialist crew from Kent Fire and Rescue Service’s (KFRS) Technical Rescue team based in Maidstone involved.

The simulated training exercise began when a passing motorist phoned KFRS’s emergency control centre just before 2.30pm after the bus was involved in a crash under a low bridge, with four passengers trapped on the upper deck.

Three fire engines headed to the scene of the London Bus and Truck Company on Northfleet Industrial Estate.

Exercise director, Julian Light, said: “Fortunately this type of situation doesn’t happen very often, but when it does, we need to be prepared and know the types of challenges and difficulties we will be faced with.

“Training like this is an integral and on-going part of our job and encourages crews to think on their feet, quickly weigh up a situation and act accordingly.”

While one crew worked feverishly in limited space on the top deck of the bus assessing and prioritising the casualties and providing emergency first aid care, a second crew got to work stabilising the bus.

They used KFRS’s new hydraulic heavy rescue equipment to cut away the side of the bus to create an opening to get the casualties out safely.

The exercise on Thursday, aptly named Operation Roof Chop, lasted for two hours and was made possible with the help of the London Bus and Truck Company.

Director Roger Wright said: “We were happy to help KFRS with this exercise by providing an unusual and realistic training experience for them to practice and enhance their skills in a controlled environment. It is always nice to assist the emergency services with training as they do an amazing job risking their lives on a daily basis. Hopefully this exercise will help them in the future.”

Julian added: “We are really grateful to the London Bus and Truck Company for providing this excellent training opportunity. It provided us with a difficult challenge and allowed us to test how we would deal with a more unusual scenario.”