A family received shocking news when they were informed that their son had passed away, only to discover weeks later that he was actually alive. South Yorkshire Police mistakenly reported that 17-year-old Trevor Wynn had died in a tragic accident, but he was found to be alive in a hospital. Trevor, also known as TJ, from Worksop, Nottinghamshire, survived the crash, which claimed the lives of two other teenagers.
The incident occurred when a silver Toyota Corolla, traveling from Dinnington, South Yorkshire, veered off the road. Joshua Johnson, 18, and a 17-year-old girl, who was driving the vehicle, lost their lives in the collision. Initially, authorities believed that Joshua was the one receiving medical treatment, but it was later revealed that it was Trevor.
Following new information on Sunday, formal identification procedures, including forensics, were initiated. Trevor’s family, who had set up a GoFundMe page after being wrongly informed of his death, updated their supporters about the situation. They expressed their gratitude for the support received and emphasized the need to focus on Trevor’s recovery and the associated financial challenges.
The family highlighted the long road ahead for Trevor’s recovery, which involves medical care, rehabilitation, travel, accommodation, and family expenses. They expressed appreciation for the outpouring of support and acknowledged the difficult news that TJ was still alive after funeral arrangements had been made. Two individuals were arrested in connection with the incident and are currently on bail.
Assistant Chief Constable Colin McFarlane addressed the situation, acknowledging the shock it caused and the additional trauma involved. He assured support for Trevor and all families affected and mentioned the engagement of specialist agencies to provide assistance. The police department decided to involve the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) to investigate the identification processes following the collision and ensure such errors are prevented in the future.