A devastated family initiated a fundraising campaign for their teenage son who they thought had perished in a car accident, but they shared a significant update.
According to authorities, Trevor Wynn, 17, was pronounced dead following a traffic incident in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, on December 13. His family launched a GoFundMe page in preparation for his funeral. However, three weeks later, Trevor regained consciousness from a coma and correctly identified himself to medical staff. The mistaken identity by South Yorkshire Police led to Trevor’s family informing donors that the teenager was, in fact, alive.
The family of the teen, hailing from Worksop, Nottinghamshire, was informed by the police that he passed away around 3 am less than two weeks before Christmas. Plans were underway for Trevor, also known as TJ, to be laid to rest on Friday, but an unexpected turn of events occurred.
An 18-year-old named Joshua Johnson and an unnamed 17-year-old girl, who was driving, tragically lost their lives after a silver Toyota Corolla veered off the road in Dinnington, South Yorkshire. Initially, authorities believed Joshua was hospitalized under sedation, but Trevor’s awakening from the coma unveiled the shocking error.
In a surprising update on the GoFundMe page, a family spokesperson stated, “IMPORTANT UPDATE – PLEASE READ. We want to address something openly and honestly. Following recent confirmation, it has now come to light that TJ is alive.”
“The police initially made a mistake and identified the wrong person, and we were informed incorrectly at the time. This has since been clarified, and we want to be completely transparent with everyone who has supported us.”
“Our focus now is on helping TJ recover and rehabilitate, and on supporting his family with the very real costs they are facing during this incredibly difficult time. TJ has been through a serious, life-changing situation.”
The fundraiser also mentioned that the teenager’s journey to recovery would encompass medical treatment, rehabilitation, travel, accommodation, and family expenses.
The update further added: “We understand this news may come as a shock, and we appreciate everyone’s patience, kindness, and continued support. Every single share, donation, and message has come from a place of love — and that love is still needed now more than ever. Thank you for standing with TJ and his family.”
Assistant Chief Constable Colin McFarlane of South Yorkshire Police expressed, “This has obviously come as a huge shock to everyone and we recognize the additional trauma this may cause.”
“We are supporting Trevor and all the families through this and have engaged specialist agencies to help provide that support. 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.”
“We have taken the decision to refer ourselves to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) to consider our role in the identification processes which were followed following the road traffic collision. We will co-operate fully with any subsequent investigation and will be led by the IOPC on the next steps to determine how this happened, and how we can ensure this never happens again in the future.”
An 18-year-old was apprehended on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving, while a 19-year-old was arrested on suspicion of perverting the course of justice. Both individuals are currently on bail pending further investigations.