A 76-YEAR-OLD woman has died after suffering chest injuries as she tried to get off a bus in Bournemouth.

Bridget Buckley was hurt while she made her way down the gangway of the number 31 Yellow Bus as it pulled up to a stop on Southbourne Grove, near its junction with Grand Avenue.

The accident happened at around 11.55am on Tuesday January 31 as the single-decker bus travelled along Route 31. No other vehicles were involved.

Mrs Buckley was taken to hospital but sadly passed away on February 5.

An inquest was opened and adjourned on February 8 by the coroner for Bournemouth, Poole and East Dorset who determined the cause of death to be bronchopneumonia and surgical emphysema as a result of Mrs Buckley’s injuries.

Now police in Bournemouth are appealing for anyone who witnessed the incident or has any information to contact them.

PC Sarah Jones, of Dorset Police’s Traffic Unit, said: “I am keen to hear from anyone who may have witnessed the number 31 Yellow Bus travelling along Southbourne Grove at around the time of the collision.

“I would also appeal to those persons travelling on the bus who may have witnessed the incident to contact Dorset Police.”

The incident was reported to police on Sunday.

Witnesses and anyone with any information should call Dorset Police on 101, quoting incident number 12:172, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

A Yellow Buses’ spokesman said: “We were very sorry to learn of this lady’s death and our sympathies and condolences go out to her family. The incident on January 31 is being investigated by police and we will, of course, fully co-operate with their inquiries.”