In a shocking broadcast on Good Morning Britain, presenter Ranvir Singh revealed a 'catastrophic' police error that left two families enduring weeks of unimaginable distress following a serious car crash.
A 'Defies Belief' Identification Failure
The incident, reported live from the South Yorkshire Police headquarters by correspondent Amelia Beckett, centred on a collision in Rotherham last month. South Yorkshire Police initially informed the family of 17-year-old Trevor Wynn that he had died in the crash, alongside a girl of the same age. Officers believed that 18-year-old Joshua Jackson was the survivor, sedated and receiving treatment in hospital for severe injuries.
This devastating information was delivered to Trevor's family, who began planning his funeral. Meanwhile, Joshua's family was told he was alive and in hospital. The truth only emerged nearly three weeks later.
The Heartbreaking Truth Emerges
On Sunday, January 4, new information came to light, prompting fresh identification procedures. Further tests revealed the horrifying mistake. Trevor Wynn was, in fact, the teenager fighting for his life in hospital. Tragically, it was Joshua Jackson who had lost his life in the collision.
"It sort of defies belief really that the identification process in such a serious incident could have gone so catastrophically wrong," Ranvir Singh told viewers. Amelia Beckett responded, "I think many people will struggle to believe that this is a real story."
It is reported that the error was discovered when Trevor finally woke from sedation on Sunday and was able to tell hospital staff his real name.
Police Apology and Watchdog Referral
South Yorkshire Police have issued a full apology for the profound suffering caused by their mistake. Assistant Chief Constable Colin McFarlane stated: "I have also offered to meet with both sets of parents as I am sure they will have many questions, most of which we are not able to answer yet, but we are absolutely committed to understanding how this happened so it cannot happen again."
In a significant move, the force has also referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), the police watchdog, to conduct a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding the identification failure.
The report on Good Morning Britain, presented by Susanna Reid and Ed Balls, highlighted a case of institutional error with devastating human consequences, leaving two families to rebuild their lives after a three-week nightmare.
