Teens dice with death on internet film

Feb 29 2008 by Abbie Wightwick, Western Mail

ALARMING images of two teenagers clinging to the back of a bus on a three-mile trip through the South Wales Valleys have been posted on the internet.

The boys can clearly be seen narrowly avoiding serious or even fatal injury when holding on to the back of the number 100 bus between Tonteg and Pontypridd.

A fare between the two towns costs just £1.25.

Footage taken with a camera has been posted on video website YouTube by Dane Campbell, who filmed the stunt from a car travelling behind the bus, driven by his friend Ben Williams Mainwaring.

Yesterday, Mr Campbell, the drummer with indie band SaidMike, said he was stunned to see what the boys – aged 13 to 15 – were doing.

But a spokesman for the bus operator Veolia criticised the pair’s actions and said it was attempting to have the film removed from the internet.

Mr Campbell, who lives in Llantwit Fardre, said he and Mr Williams Mainwaring, bassist with the rock band Kick Box Riot, were on the way to a Saturday afternoon football match in Pontypridd when they saw the teenagers holding on to the back of the bus, standing on the bumper with their heads just below the back window. He said they were scared of alerting the bus driver to their presence by flashing their lights or blowing the horn, in case he suddenly stopped, throwing the boys off.

Mr Campbell said they were also worried they might run over the teenagers if they fell on to the road.

As a result, they stayed around five car lengths behind the bus, he said.

Although the footage appears to be filmed from close range, it has actually been zoomed in from a greater distance, Mr Campbell said.

Despite this, bus operator Veolia said it was irresponsible of Mr Campbell and Williams Mainwaring not to have taken action at the time, and simply to publicise the prank on the internet.

Defending their actions, Mr Campbell, who is currently travelling to France to tour with another band, said, “When we saw them we were, like, whoever would think to try that? It’s so dangerous.”

Speaking from a cross-Channel ferry, he added, “It was a good three miles. They got all the way to opposite the Wetherspoon’s pub by the traffic lights at Pontypridd.

“The bus was going faster than 40mph.

“We could not do anything about it. The boys saw us and were showing off. I couldn’t do anything so I thought I would get my camera out.

“Kids might do this on a regular basis for all I know.

“We could not have done anything. We were on a single carriageway. There was a danger if the bus suddenly stopped.

“We kept our distance but we were scared if the bus stopped they would fall off and we would hit them.

“As soon as the road went to two lanes we spoke to them (the boys).

“We pulled over next to them and we were like, ‘boys, you want to be careful’ and they got scared and just ran off.

“The memory ran out on my camera before that though.”

Mr Campbell said he took the decision to put the film on YouTube “for the wow”, and also to warn people.

“I did it originally not to warn people, but to wow them,” he said.

He then posted a message warning, “don’t try this at home.”

The recording inside the car reveals the friends were alarmed.

They are heard saying, “There’s two kids getting a free lift to Ponty holding on to the back of the bus.

“I hope they don’t fall off because if they do we will probably run them over.

“I cannot believe how nuts this is. I have never seen anything like it before.

“I can’t believe they are exactly the right size and the driver can’t see their heads.

“The bus driver doesn’t have a clue.

“They are loving it. They’re turning round and poking their tongues out, ‘Look at me I’m getting a free lift to Ponty’.

“I can’t believe they’re not scared.”

Bus operator Veolia Transport Cymru said police had been informed.

Managing director Charles Lewis said, “This hazardous behaviour is extremely alarming and we would urge parents to warn their children about the dangers of taking such risks.

“The South Wales Police have been informed of this serious situation and, to my knowledge, three boys have already been identified and cautioned for their careless actions.

“As far as the video is concerned, we are seeking legal advice to determine our options to have the footage removed.

“This is a growing craze among teenagers, isolated in this instance to three individuals and must not be escalated through any media.”

A company spokesman said that on-road inspectors were now patrolling the route and some buses have had CCTV cameras fitted.

A South Wales Police spokeswoman said three boys aged 13 to 15, were involved.

Taff Neighbourhood Policing Inspector Steve Jones said, “We were already aware of this incident and are still investigating it.

“The identity of some of the culprits is known and anti-social behaviour order referrals have been made for two of them so far.

“This is dangerous and completely irresponsible behaviour by these teenagers. They are risking their own lives as they could easily fall into the road or under another car. They are also endangering others as they could cause a serious accident.

“For this reason we would also urge members of the public not to encourage this type of behaviour by filming it with phones and promoting it on websites like this.

“This type of stunt is not a prank and if youngsters copy it we could have a fatality.

“We are working with Veolia bus service to see if the design of the bus can be adapted to prevent this from happening.”

They are loving it. They’re turning round and poking their tongues out, ‘Look at me I’m getting a free lift to Ponty’