Emotional welcome as stranded Wolverhampton teenagers return
School children and their families from the Black Country spoke of their relief at being reunited after they were left stranded on a remote Scottish island's during heavy snowfall.
The group of 32 teenagers arrived back at St Edmund's Catholic and St Peter's Collegiate schools in Wolverhampton at about 10pm last night.
The teenagers finally made it on to a ferry yesterday at about 2pm after mountain rescuers in a special off-road truck came to their aid at 10am.
High winds sparked fears they would have a long wait to get to the mainland.
But the group eventually started a seven-hour coach journey to Wolverhampton, reaching the schools at about 10pm.
They were greeted by lines of parents who had spent the weekend wondering when they would see their children again.
St Edmund's pupil Claire Bate hugged her father Colin and mother Nonie, and spoke of her relief at being back home.
The 16-year-old, of Finchfield, said: "We were told every day that we should be going home but it never happened. But everyone there looked after us really well."
Mrs Bate, 52, a civil servant, said: "We are so relieved to see her again and have her home. Everyone was worried."
Parents began parking outside St Edmund's an hour before the coach appeared, ready to greet their children.
The teenagers were given the day off school today to recover.
Imogen Musson, 17, had not spoken to her parents since last Thursday and her mother Marina, a 52-year-old sales manager at Morrisons, said: "I was really worried. I knew she was safe and there was good communication from the school but we when we finally spoke on the phone when she told me she was coming home we both had a cry."
Imogen, a student at St Edmund's, added: "It's much better to be back."
Chloe Edgington, aged 16, said many pupils did not realise how serious the situation was until a helicopter delivered food and water to the island over the weekend.
The St Edmund's student, of Lower Penn, added: "We tried to make the most of our time there by helping out and clearing driveways but we are so glad to be back."
