ABC host Sarah Ferguson has come under fire for denouncing two heroic traditions that helped rescue children who suffered life-changing injuries in a horror crash between a truck and a school bus.
The bus is believed to have been hit from behind by a lorry before flipping over in Eynesbury, near Melbourne, at around 3:40pm on Tuesday.
On board were 45 children from Exford Primary School, some of whom were seriously injured – with one pupil undergoing a ‘full’ amputation and others losing limbs.
Several people rushed to help the children and two tradies who were part of the rescue spoke about their traumatic experience at 7:30 pm on Wednesday night.
However, stunned viewers took to social media to accuse Ferguson of the blunt way she conducted the interview.
They have accused her of grilling the men and not showing “empathy or sensitivity.”
Cameron Chalmers and Dean Eastway appeared on video to talk about their role in rescuing children in the aftermath of the crash
Rescuers rescue children from a school bus that rolled on its side on the outskirts of Melbourne
Some outraged viewers have even gone so far as to demand an apology from Ferguson or the ABC.
In the interview, Cameron Chalmers and Dean Eastway spoke about their role in rescuing children in the aftermath of the crash.
They were on their way home after work and were traveling after the bus when the accident happened.
Both men seemed shaken by the experience and struggled to answer Ferguson’s prying questions.
Mr Chalmers explained: ‘We didn’t know if there was one person or several people on the bus. We just didn’t know, so we ran across the street and ripped the sunroofs off. We found all those kids on the bus, it was terrible.’
In response, Ferguson asked, “Can you describe what you saw when you ripped off the sunroofs?”
A visibly shaken Mr Chalmers replied, ‘We just saw the kids screaming. There was smoke and dust. We took out all the kids we could, I couldn’t tell you how many we took out.
“Once we got that out, we found kids trapped, so we just jumped on the bus to help them. There were other people there and we just lifted the chairs.
“When we realized that some of them were stuck with their arms under the bus, we just had to stay with them.”
Despite the horror of Mr. Chalmers’ words, Ferguson quickly continued and asked Mr. Eastway, “What condition were the children in?”
He took a deep breath and replied, “Um, different kinds of situations. Clearly terrified. They were stuck. They were screaming. “I don’t want to be on a bus again. Where is mommy?’
Both men seemed shaken by the experience and struggled to answer Sarah Ferguson’s prying questions
Children were trapped on the bus before witnesses and rescuers pulled them from the wreckage and took them to hospital
A school bus carrying children from Exford Primary School in Melbourne’s west has reportedly been hit by a lorry from behind and overturned
“All kinds of stuff and there were all kinds of injuries. It was just awful.’
Ferguson persisted, asking the men in detail what they saw and how the children they rescued were doing.
Later in the interview, Mr. Chalmers explained how he found a captive boy and girl and worked to free them.
Ferguson then invited him to “tell her” about the boy and girl.
Mr. Chalmers seemed uncomfortable with the question, cleared his throat and stuttered before answering.
He said, ‘He was lying on his back with his arm under the bus. The little girl was also on top of him with her arm under the bus.
“So I had those two and then a little girl with her arm under the bus. She was kind of face down and we just took care of them and held their hands while the services went about their business.”
Despite clearly struggling as they relived the graphic details of what they saw, Ferguson went ahead and asked them to explain whether the children were wearing seatbelts.
When the men explained how they had cut the seatbelts of some students, Ferguson asked if they had seen some of the children not wearing seatbelts.
At one point she also asked if the men had been given the names of the children they had helped.
The bizarre interview was criticized online, with viewers asking why Ferguson seemed so unsympathetic.
A court heard on Wednesday how truck driver Jamie Gleeson (pictured) helped pull children from the wreckage of the bus shortly after the crash
Seven children are still in hospital after the horrific crash. Pictured is the bus wreck at the junction of Exford Road and Murphys Road in Eynesbury
One of them said, “If the ABC thinks this style of interviewing is a hit, they’ve really hit a new low.” Sarah Ferguson is a disgrace.’
A second asked, “The bus accident looked horrific and I am sad for everyone involved. I’m also disturbed by this interview with Sarah Ferguson and the men who assisted… How is this okay?’
Another angry onlooker said, “I’m not enjoying this interview with the bus crash rescuers. It feels like Sarah Ferguson is digging for dirt. These guys are clearly champions at helping, but seriously, ABC does better.”
A viewer went further, accusing Ferguson of traumatizing the men: “What on earth is Sarah Ferguson trying to achieve by traumatizing the two men she is interviewing about the Victoria bus crash.
“Terrible, reprehensible journalism. ABC needs to review this interview and teach Ferguson professionally. A disgrace.’
Another said, ‘Seriously, Sarah Ferguson, was it really necessary to ask those men those questions? It was unsettling to listen to you.’
Daily Mail Australia has contacted the ABC for comment.
Lorry driver and father-of-two Jamie Robert Gleeson, 49, was released on bail on Wednesday after being charged with four counts of dangerous driving with serious injuries as a result of the accident.
The court heard on Wednesday how Gleeson told police he saw the “sun flash” between the trees in the moments before the impact. The court was told how Gleeson stopped at the scene after the accident, called triple-0 and began helping to pull children from the wreckage.
The tradies stayed with the imprisoned children all the time, holding their hands and talking to them.
Truck driver and Gleeson’s employer L&J Cartage broke the silence on Thursday.
Our heart goes out to everyone involved, especially the children and their families.
“We are deeply shocked and saddened by what has happened.”
It also confirmed that Gleeson had 20 years of experience driving trucks and had been with the company for more than 15 years.
Seven children are still in hospital on Thursday morning, one of them in intensive care. All are in a stable condition.
The children suffered multiple and traumatic injuries ranging from partial to full amputations, crushed limbs and severe cuts to their heads and bodies.
Four will require further surgery.