FRIENDS of a mental health patient who died after crashing an ambulance he had stolen into a double-decker bus have called for a full inquiry into the incident.

It has emerged Michael South was being transported between hospitals by private ambulance firm ERS Medical at 8.10pm on Friday when he drove off in the vehicle, before colliding with a packed Coastliner bus on the A64, near Flaxton, North Yorkshire, 20 minutes later.

The builder died at the scene and six others were treated in hospital, including the bus driver, whose condition was yesterday (Wednesday, April 15) described as stable, but serious.

Witnesses described scenes of horror after the impact and how passengers smashed windows and leapt from the roof of the bus to escape.

Colleagues of Mr South said he had been struggling with his mental health for some time and are convinced he intended to crash the ambulance.

Builder Ben Aked said: "He has done this on purpose, he wanted to take his life, and to be left to be able to take an ambulance... somebody is going to have to be held accountable for that.

"He had cried out for help for so long and no one had actually helped him.

"It drove him to do what he did because he felt there were no more doors to knock on and no one was willing to help him."

He said: "There could have been half a bus-load being killed through this.

"It is bad enough as it was, but it could have been dreadful."

Leeds and York Partnership NHS Trust, which had provided care for Mr South, declined to comment on the claims, where Mr South was being transported between or whether it had launched an investigation into the incident.

A trust spokesman referred inquiries to North Yorkshire Police, who said they were unable to reveal where the ambulance had been stolen from.

Darren Howell, chairman of the club, said members were in shock and that Mr South had won second team player of the year award at the club's dinner in February, where he had appeared his normal self.

He said: "He was one of the main players and will be sadly missed.

"He was a batsman, a bowler and probably the leading run scorer last year and one of the leading wicket-takers."