Survivor's coach crash ordeal

Mr Burchill walked away from the coach crash

A coach passenger involved in a crash which killed a man and injured nearly 40 concert-goers has said he is lucky to be alive.

Chris Burchill, from Swinton near Manchester, was sitting next to his wife Mary when 20-year-old Simon Vernon walked out on to the A483 dual carriageway in Wrexham.

Police said the crash, which happened in the early hours of Monday morning, was caused as the coach tried to swerve to avoid Mr Vernon, who was on the road.

The HGV lorry travelling behind then crashed into the back of the coach, causing it to flip over trapping five people inside.

"I saw an Astra parked up and then I saw a man in front of us," said Mr Burchill, who escaped with minor injuries.

I wasn't trapped in anyway, I helped my wife and other people get out Chris Burchill coach passenger

"The coach had no chance of stopping.

"Everyone was aware that we'd hit someone so there was panic.

"I wasn't trapped in anyway, I helped my wife and other people get out and when we left the coach the emergency services were already there."

Mr Burchill and his wife Mary, who have three daughters, were taken to the Countess of Chester Hospital where they were discharged later.

Mrs Burchill, a school secretary has injured her back and neck in the accident.

The coach was secured by a recovery team

The passengers on the coach - the majority of which were employees of Dedicated Micros CCTV camera firm in Manchester - were returning home after watching Shirley Bassey in concert at the Llangollen International Eisteddfod.

Mr and Mrs Burchill were given the tickets as a present from the school where Mrs Burchill works.

North Wales Police are trying to establish why Mr Vernon was in the middle of the dual carriageway.

His girlfriend was still in the car parked at the side of the road at the time of the incident.

The busy dual carriageway was closed for about 12 hours following the accident, causing major disruption.

An inquest into Mr Vernon's death has been opened and adjourned.