The coach left the road near Broadford on the A87 Portree Road at 1215BST on Tuesday, police said.

The vehicle, which was carrying a tour party of mostly elderly people, then toppled 20ft down an embankment and came to rest above a ravine.

It was spotted by a passing paramedic who raised the alarm.

The bus apparently left the road three miles south of Broadford on the island

Police spokesman

There has been no official confirmation of what happened but it was understood the dead man was the driver of the vehicle and he died at the wheel.

A woman was flown by air ambulance to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness with head and leg injuries and a further 37 people were treated for minor injuries at Broadford's Dr Mackinnon Memorial Hospital.

A police spokesman said: "About 1215 today, a road accident occurred on the Island of Skye involving a coach tour bus.

"The bus apparently left the road three miles south of Broadford on the island."

The spokesman said the bus had left Yorkshire on Monday and had picked up passengers in Sheffield, Barnsley, Wakefield, Leeds, Bradford and Huddersfield.

It arrived in Garve, north west of Inverness, on Monday evening and the passengers stayed at the Garve Hotel where they were due to be based for the duration of their holiday.

Firm's history

The tour party was travelling to Skye on a day trip when the accident happened.

An emergency number - 01355 271608 - has been issued by tour operator David Urquhart Travel.

A coach company director said it was one of the saddest days in the firm's history.

He said it was the company's first fatal crash since its formation in 1983.

The bus was carrying a total of 43 people and was due to return to Yorkshire on 8 June.