In December, the family of Trevor Wynn, 17, was told that the boy had died in a car accident.
Three weeks later he woke up from his coma.
– We understand that there are questions, most of which we cannot answer yet, says police chief Colin McFarlane.
During the night of December 13, a car ran off the road in British South Yorkshire and crashed miserably.
Three youths were in the car and two of them, a 17-year-old girl and Trevor Wynns, the same age, were said to have died while 18-year-old Joshua Johnson was said to have been in a coma.
On the same day, the police gave the death notice to Wynn’s family, who until recently mourned the boy.
On Monday, the person woke up in a coma – and only then did they realize the police’s mistake.
– The doctors asked what his name was and he said his name and social security number. His mother Charlotte was picked up and was able to confirm that it was indeed Trevor, says family friend Jonathan Stoner to the Mirror.
Trevor’s funeral was due to be held on Friday.
– It’s a lot to take in, says another family friend to the newspaper.
Collected money
Instead, the police had to leave a death notice to Joshua Johnson’s family, who for weeks thought he was sedated.
The friend Jonathan Stoner had time to start a collection for Wynn’s family and received just over 10,000 kroner before the news of his death. The money will now instead go towards the boy’s recovery from his serious injuries.
At the moment, the police cannot answer how the mix-up happened. Deputy Chief Constable Colin McFarlane said in a statement that he understands the further pain this has caused the families of those affected.
Police officer Colin McFarlane promises to get to the bottom of what happened.
Photo: South Yorkshire Police.
– We are determined to find out how this could happen ppand that it never happens again, he says in the statement.
He also offers to meet the families of both victims and says that they have reported themselves to the police department for internal reviews.
