Barnsley’s players and staff were evacuated from their team bus after it went up in flames on the way back to Yorkshire on Saturday evening. The Tykes were travelling home after beating Exeter City on Saturday afternoon, with John McAtee grabbing a late winner to claim all three points for the visitors.
The result saw Barnsley keep the pressure on the automatic promotion places in League One, with Neill Collins’ side currently sitting in third having enjoyed a solid start to the new campaign. Their post-match celebrations on Saturday were short-lived, though, with a huge fire engulfing their team bus on the long journey back up north.
Nobody was harmed in the scary incident after the players and staff on board were safely evacuated and led away from the scene. It took place on the M5 just south of Cheltenham at around 8pm and caused a section of the motorway to be closed while the inferno was dealt with and the resulting debris cleared away.
Barnsley later addressed the incident in a statement, which read: “We can confirm that on the way back from our fixture against Exeter City this evening, our club coach suffered complications and subsequently caught fire. All players and staff on board were evacuated safely.
“Everyone is in good health. We would like to thank the emergency services for their swift response. The club will make no further comment at this time and is focused on ensuring the safe return of staff and players.”
Meanwhile, a post on X from National Highways read: “The M5 northbound is closed between J12 & J11 near Gloucester and Cheltenham due to a coach fire within J11A. Traffic is also currently held southbound between J11 & J11A while the fire is brought under control.”
Videos on social media showed the coach engulfed in flames, with smoke billowing high into the air as the blaze lit up the night sky. Other clips showed emergency services tending to the fire as Barnsley’s players and staff watched on from a safe distance.
The motorway was closed to northbound traffic for several hours after the fire initially started, with cars heading in the other direction finally being released at 9.50pm. Barnsley’s players will be hoping to put the scary incident behind them in time for their next outing, which will see them go up against Leyton Orient away from home after the international break.
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