Bus passengers in shock over fatal double-decker bus stair fall

An elderly woman who fell down the stairwell of a double-decker bus was comforted by strangers as she lay unconscious on the floor.

The 74-year-old had been trying to turn back down the stairwell to pick up a lost wallet to hand to the bus driver when she fell.

It was understood she was Coreen Johns, from Orewa. An obituary published in the Herald said she is survived by her sons Darryl and Lance, daughter-in-law Kerri, and three grandchildren.

"An amazing women who will be missed dearly by all," the notice said.

Teacher Kelly Clark was also on the bus with her three young daughters at the Hibiscus Coast Station and Park & Ride on Friday morning.

"We all heard the noise, it was such a huge noise," Clark said.

"We hadn't even really moved ... we hadn't moved out of the bus stop."

Clark, alongside two other young women, put Johns into the recovery position.

"She was never conscious," she said.

"She had a massive lump on the front of her head. I reckon she must have hit her head."

The group had all tried as much as they could to help, including checking for any kind of medical alerts, she said.

"All your first-aid training goes through your head."

As a teacher, Clark underwent St John first-aid training every two years, she said.

"I went through her wallet and we found a phone number and called it - it was actually her son."

A man's wallet was also on the ground beside her - "I thought this can't be her wallet".

Auckland Transport said although that particular bus was no longer operating so police could conduct their investigation "double-decker services are running the same as usual". Photo / File

"I was looking around her, and we found her sunglasses too, they were sitting on the railing of the stairs.

"It was a freak accident I suppose."

It took about 30 minutes for the ambulance arrive, at which point the 74-year-old's son also arrived, Clark said.

"The bus driver looked quite worried ... he just seemed so inexperienced to be in a situation like that, which is what concerned me."

Clark said she had been hoping the woman was okay, and was sad to hear of her death.

Acting Senior Sergeant Nick Herd, Waitemata Police, said Johns died in Auckland Hospital that evening.

She was on the bus about 10.30am on Friday when she noticed that a wallet had been left behind by a previous passenger and she had gone downstairs to give it to the driver, he said.

The 74-year-old was on the bus about 10.30am on Friday when she fell down the stairs. Photo / Google

"It is at this time that she has fallen."

Herd said police had made a number of inquiries into her death and there were no suspicious circumstances.

"The matter has been referred to both the Coroner and WorkSafe NZ," he said.

"This was an absolute tragedy for this woman's family and our deepest sympathies are with them during this difficult time."

An Auckland Transport spokesperson said that particular bus was no longer operating so that police could conduct their investigation.

"But no, other than that double-decker services are running the same as usual."