A BUS driver who is in a coma after a major crash had told his supervisor he was feeling unwell before driving.

The driver of the number 5 bus involved in Monday's crash in North Street was last night in a medically induced coma in hospital.

Brighton and Hove Bus Company said they were investigating whether the driver of the number 5 had suffered a medical episode leading up to the crash.

Whistleblowers from the bus company have told The Argus that the driver is believed to have told his supervisor that he was feeling unwell prior to taking the fateful journey.

A source at the Conway Street garage where the driver was based said: "At 6am while doing bus checks this driver reported to supervisors that he wasn't feeling well.

"I myself saw him at around 6am sitting on the bottom deck of his bus holding his chest."

A witness on the number 5 said that the driver "wasn’t looking right" immediately before crashing into the back of another bus on one of the city's busiest routes.

The driver suffered injuries to his head, chest and abdomen and had to be cut free from his cab. A male passenger on his bus also suffered life threatening injuries.

In response to the claims made exclusively to The Argus managing director Martin Harris said: "We have investigated the allegations made by some people regarding our response to our driver's health on the morning of the incident.

"Our driver did report to a supervisor that he did feel unwell at the time he was due to commence his shift. Our supervisor correctly advised him not to commence his duty and to advise whether he felt able to drive or not later.

"Our driver subsequently, and of his own volition, reported back to a second supervisor, advising that he then felt fine to drive and would commence work.

"He then commenced his service approximately one hour later than scheduled as a result of being able to take this break. He then appears to have become ill again about an hour and a half into his driving.

"We have been advised subsequently that investigation into the cause of our driver feeling unwell at this point indicates a condition of which he had no previous history. We are seeking confirmation of this point.

"The allegations that he was pressured by the company to work after earlier feeling unwell are unfounded.

Another driver told The Argus: "He told his supervisor face to face that he wasn't well, but with this company you can’t afford to be sick."

Drivers are understood to only be paid 80% of their wages while on sick leave and to face disciplinary action of they are ill three times in 13 weeks.

Gary Cook, Brighton and Hove Buses' representative for the GMB union said: "The company is very short of drivers at the moment so there is pressure on drivers to come to work.

"Clearly drivers are always under pressure to come to work for financial reasons and the hardship it will cause.

"I have heard rumours that this driver wasn't feeling tip top, however as the GMP reps will be involved as part of the official investigation it wouldn't be appropriate to comment further."

Another source within the company said: "The company always says drivers are responsible for making their own decision on whether to drive. Their policy is to put the responsibility onto individual drivers. But if you are effectively going to be fined 20% for being sick.

"That probably needs to change.

"They should be able to make decisions on whether they are fit to drive without any outside influence."

A spokeswoman for Brighton and Hove Buses added: "We roster our drivers' scheduled duties with rest between duties with a minimum of 11 hours. This is better than the legal requirement. This can be varied down towards the legal minimum on limited occasions and only by agreement with the driver.

"Like any professional organisation, we operate an attendance policy and this is to maintain good standards of attendance and is not unduly onerous nor out of step with common practice.

"Drivers are required to attend medical examinations every five years after the age of 45 by law. We comply with this. We also carry out medical examination s upon appointment and refer employees to our occupational health advisors in the event of indications that this is necessary, and offer screening opportunities for employees on a voluntary basis."

Sussex Police is appealing for witnesses to the accident or those who saw the buses prior to the crash to call them on 101.