TWO victims seriously injured in an Austrian coach crash were being flown home 24 hours later than expected on Friday after a hospital bungle.

Glennys Astley and Richard Howard -- injured in a holiday crash which left five Britons dead -- were on board the same air ambulance.

The couple were due to have been flown home on Thursday but due to a mix-up between their insurance company, Axa Assist, and the Royal Bolton and Hope Hospital in Salford the air ambulance was cancelled because no beds were available for them.

Richard, aged 16, had been visiting Austria with the Astley family when the accident happened.

Don Astley and his 16-year-old son Ian suffered minor injuries and were treated at hospital in Salzburg.

Mrs Astley was seriously injured and was in intensive care for days. She was airlifted to a hospital near Munich with crush injuries.

Richard, a pupil at Canon Slade School, was in an Innsbruck hospital where he too spent time in intensive care.

Both shared the same air ambulance as they made their way back home.

Mrs Astley, aged 55, of Crompton Way, Astley Bridge, will be transferred to the Royal Bolton Hospital where she will receive extensive physiotherapy to get her walking properly and to increase her lung capacity. Richard, from Worsley, will be taken to Wythenshawe Hospital for treatment to his right arm, which could be paralysed.

Richard's parents, Martin and Melanie, were initially furious that a bed could not be found locally for their son. It was later discovered that Mrs Astley was in the same position.

Both had their bags packed and were set to leave on Wednesday morning. But they were told their air ambulance had been cancelled because there were no hospital beds.

Mr and Mrs Howard flew home on a scheduled flight while Mr Astley flew home on Wednesday.

Mr Howard said: "We are just relieved it is all over and will be so glad when we are all back home."

Mrs Howard said: "It's disgusting that no bed could be found for a child in the area where we live. We are pleased he is going to Wythenshawe and believe it is the right place for him to be treated."

Mr Astley said: "I had flown home on the Wednesday because I understood my wife would be home on Thursday morning but she rang me in tears saying the insurance company were struggling to find a bed.

"I'm so glad it has all been sorted out now."

Director of operations at the Royal Bolton Hospital, Nigel Palmer, said: "When we want to repatriate someone from abroad, ideally we would like a clinician (doctor) to clinician discussion about the specific nature of the injuries, where is the most suitable place for them to go, with the right skills and the right equipment."

"Unless we are given a full picture of the situation, it is very difficult to discuss the most appropriate place for treatment." A spokesman from Axa Insurance said: "We try to match up an appropriate hospital for the patient and that's a bit of a lottery sometimes. Strong efforts have been made to get these people into local hospitals but there has been some difficulty."