Teenager's Remarkable Recovery After Police Mistaken Identity Blunder
A teenager at the centre of a catastrophic mistaken identity police blunder has made a remarkable recovery, defying medical expectations after officers wrongly informed his parents he had died in a horror road crash. In a staggering mix-up, South Yorkshire Police told the family of Trevor Wynn, 17, that he had perished in the collision near Rotherham on December 13, while simultaneously informing the family of Joshua Johnson, 18, that their son had survived and was fighting for life.
Unbelievable Mix-Up and Tragic Discovery
The truth only emerged three weeks later in extraordinary circumstances when Trevor woke from a coma and asked medics, 'Why are you calling me Josh?' This revelation confirmed that Joshua had, in fact, died in the crash, while Trevor was the survivor. The misidentification occurred because police relied on photographs rather than forensic checks, following a policy introduced during the Covid pandemic, leading to immense trauma for both families.
Trevor, who was so seriously injured he was not allowed visitors in intensive care, is now rebuilding his life at home in Worksop, Nottinghamshire. Friends describe his recovery as a 'bit of a miracle', noting he is walking and recovering well, aside from losing feeling in his left arm. Family friend Jonathan Stoner, 31, said, 'He's out of hospital. I've been seeing him and he's alright. He's walking, he's fine - he's just got no feeling in his left arm, that's it.'
Chaotic Aftermath and Legal Implications
The fatal crash involved a silver Toyota Corolla that left Todwick Road near Dinnington, South Yorkshire, and collided with a tree. The driver, 17-year-old Summer Louise Scott from Worksop, died at the scene, along with Joshua. For 22 agonising days, the Wynn family believed they were preparing to bury their son, with a funeral set just days after the error came to light. The mix-up was only uncovered when Joshua's father, Lee Johnson, visited Rotherham hospital on January 4 and found Trevor instead of his son.
An pre-inquest hearing detailed how officers used personal belongings to contact Trevor's mother, Charlotte, and later compared an ID card with a body in the mortuary, mistakenly concluding it was Trevor. Meanwhile, another officer accompanied the sedated survivor to hospital, believing him to be Joshua based on a driving licence photo. After Joshua's father raised the alarm, dental records confirmed the patient was Trevor.
When asked if Trevor's parents were considering legal action against South Yorkshire Police for the trauma endured, Mr Stoner added, 'No, they're just happy that their son's still alive. They're just grateful that he's back home.' Mrs Wynn declined to comment other than to confirm her son was now at home.
Grieving Families and Ongoing Investigations
Joshua's parents, Hannah and Lee, and his brother Callum, are said to be 'utterly devastated' by their loss. In a statement, they referenced spending 'hours in hospital with who we now know to be Trevor', describing their experience as unimaginable. Friends remembered Joshua as a 'wonderful young man' with his whole life ahead of him, and an online fundraiser has raised over £16,500 in his memory.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct has launched an investigation into the blunder, with South Yorkshire Police also referring itself to the watchdog. Assistant Chief Constable Colin McFarlane admitted the mistake caused 'huge shock' and 'additional trauma', offering to meet with both families to address their questions. Following the crash, an 18-year-old was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving, and a 19-year-old was arrested on suspicion of perverting the course of justice.
