STRIKING hospital workers in Merseyside returned to their hospitals to help victims of a tragic road accident in which a teenage school student and a coach driver were killed.

The accident happened on the Wirral shortly after 8am on Friday when a coach carrying 50 people on the M53 motorway hit the central reservation and overturned as it carried school students to two schools in West Kirby.

Driver Stephen Shrimpton, 40, and passenger Jessica Baker died in the accident.

Mr Shrimpton is reported to have suffered a “medical issue” at the wheel.

Thirteen young people suffered minor injuries and four were hospitalised, including a 14-year-old boy who suffered “life-changing” injuries.

More than 500 clinical support workers at Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (WUTH) are taking strike action over pay grades and are claiming thousands of pounds in back pay.

They work at Arrowe Park and Clatterbridge hospitals on the Wirral.

The workers immediately abandoned the strike following the news and rushed to work, or returned home putting themselves on call in case they were needed.

Unison North West regional secretary Kevan Nelson, who was at the Arrowe Park picket, said the decision was made due to the serious nature of the accident.