A PARAMEDIC reveals today that an ambulance crew were on the scene within seconds of an accident that claimed the life of a 12-year-old girl.

Andrew Parker, 36, and fellow paramedic Jess Day were responding to another 999 call when they saw the collision between the school minibus and a car.

Mr Parker, of Blaendare Road, Pontypool, said it was 'fate' that they were there when the accident happened.

He praised members of the public who helped them at the scene and gave a message to the family of Jasmine Allen, who died after the accident.

He said: "We just want to let her parents know that we were there for Jasmine and we did the best we could for her."

Mr Parker, a paramedic with the Welsh Ambulance Service for ten years, based at Pontypool Ambulance Station, said: "That child was cared for straight away. She had the best care she could have had. There was somebody with her all the time."

He described how he witnessed the accident.

"My colleague Jess Day and I saw the minibus going down the road in front of us. We were on our way to another 999 call and were 500 yards behind the minibus.

"We saw the two vehicles separate and then saw the minibus go on its roof.

"We went to the scene straight away and found the girl outside the window on the ground. We assessed her and then emptied the minibus of the children. They were walking wounded. Members of the public helped us pull the children from the bus. The people were fantastic. They put aside their fear and helped us out. It was well coordinated.

"I think it must be fate that we were there at that time."

The emergency services' response to the tragic accident has been praised as "absolutely fantastic".

Villages have described the help that the children received as "tremendous".

Andrew Lewis, chairman of Hafodyrynys Community Association, said: "It was a very quick response.

"The police told me that when the call came through on the radio and they heard children were involved, everyone just dropped everything straight away."

The family of 15-year-old Craig Jones who suffered a fractured pelvis said he is still in hospital and is awaiting the result of a scan.

A 12-year-old girl is still being treated at Cardiff's University Hospital of Wales. A spokeswoman said Noami Welsh was moved from intensive care to a ward yesterday although she was still said to be in pain.