2700 FIN Students saved
austraLasia #2700
 

BOSCO saves 40 students!

CEBU CITY: 24 August 2010 -- If the young John Bosco sometimes punned on his name, to mean 'backwoods' or 'soft' instead of 'hard', there are 40 boys from Don Bosco Technological Centre in Cebu who are convinced, this week, that their saintly patron was the tree that saved them from certain death, as their runaway bus plunged backwards over a 500 foot ravine - to be held finally, by an Agojo (pine) tree, planted 32 years ago by a local resident. The bus remained precariously dangling over the edge as those who had not jumped earlier, managed to exit. Local residents called for help.
    The incident occurred near Dalaguete town in southern Cebu as the students and their Salesian and lay assistants headed for the Retreat House at Mantalongon. The bus radiator had overheated, and the driver had removed the cap to investigate when he was struck on the leg by scalding steam. He leaped out of the seat in pain and the bus, in neutral, moved backwards and picked up speed towards the ravine.
    A number of students and staff managed to jump for their lives, others remained trapped. Minor injuries were sustained by some 30 of the passengers and they, along with staff, were taken to the local medical centre. No-one was seriously injured.  Fr Randy Figuracion of DBTC, said in interview that DBTC will be covering any medical expenses incurred in the incident.  His sister, Flora Mae, more commonly and affectionately known as 'Boots', was accompanying the group and reportedly sustained a broken nose.

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