Viola Beach founding member says he 'narrowly escaped death'

A student has told how he narrowly escaped death after leaving the band Viola Beach just months before they tragically plunged 80ft to their deaths in a car in Sweden.

Frank Coulson, who was a founding member of the band, said “it could have been me” after a car carrying his former bandmates fell from a bridge over the Södertälje canal near Stockholm at the weekend following a festival gig.

He said he was “devastated” by the deaths of River Reeves, Kris Leonard and Jack Dakin, all 19, and Tomas Lowe, 27. Band manager Craig Tarry, 32, who was reportedly driving, also died.

Mr Coulson, 20, was in the band for two years before deciding to leave for the last year of university.