The courageous efforts of students from Aquinas College will be acknowledged at a special assembly today (30 July 2024). 27 students who were all occupants of a contracted school bus when the driver suffered a medical episode outside the College on 8 July 2024.
The students’ heroic actions allowed the bus to come to a safe stop, attend to the wellbeing of the bus driver and ensure the safety of all passengers.
Aquinas College Principal Marcus Richardson said today was an opportunity to celebrate all our students who were courageous and showed 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.”
Joining the special assembly today was Brisbane Catholic Education Executive Director Dr Sally Towns, Queensland Police Service Coomera Forensic Crash Unit’s Crash Investigator A/Sergeant Shona Hartles and Queensland Ambulance Service Gold Coast Region District Director Mr Justin Payne.
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 A/Sergeant OIC 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.”