Parents wrongly told son died in crash days before Christmas find out truth weeks later

The parents of a South Yorkshire teenager spent the Christmas period believing their son had died in a car crash before learning police had made a devastating mix-up.

In the early hours of the morning on 13 December, Trevor Wynn had been travelling in a car which was involved in a collision with another vehicle in Rotherham, South Yorkshire.

17-year-old Wynn and an unnamed girl, also 17, were initially believed to have died in the crash, with a third man, identified as 18-year-old Joshua Johnson, hospitalised with severe injuries.

However, an extraordinary turn of events yesterday (6 January) revealed that it was actually Trevor who'd survived the deadly crash, while the deceased person was in fact Joshua.

The horrifying mix-up meant the North Notts College student's family spent the Christmas and New Year period believing he'd died.

Trevor Wynn's family spent Christmas and New Year believing he'd died (SWNS)

While it's not yet clear how South Yorkshire Police misidentified the two men, it is believed that the delay in the families' realising the error was due to Trevor not being allowed visitors while in hospital.

The teenager was in a coma and being treated in intensive care in the weeks following the crash.

A friend of the family confirmed that Trevor woke up during the 'early hours' of 5 January, confirming his name and date of birth to stunned doctors.

"They have no idea how it has all come to happen," family friend Jonathan Stoner explained. "The police then picked up his mum, Charlotte, who then drove her to the hospital and confirmed it was, in fact, Trevor."

"They were planning to bury the body of another boy - how is that allowed to happen," he added.

South Yorkshire Police has since confirmed that the force has been referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) to investigate how the mix-up occurred, with Assistant Chief Constable Colin McFarlane confirming SYP will 'cooperate fully' to ensure 'this never happens again in the future'.

However it was later revealed that a mistake had been made and Joshua Johnson had actually died (South Yorkshire Police)

"This has obviously come as a huge shock to everyone, and we recognise the additional trauma this may cause," he said. "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."

The families of everyone involved, as well as Trevor, have also been offered specialised support.

"This is an appalling situation for the families involved," Jake Richard, the MP for Rother Valley, added. "To be wrongly informed about the death or survival of a loved one is unimaginably distressing, and my thoughts are with all those affected, particularly the family of Joshua Johnson, and with Trevor Wynn and his family as he continues to receive treatment."

Meanwhile, an investigation into the case is ongoing, with an 18-year-old arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving, and a 19-year-old arrested on suspicion of perverting the course of justice.

Both remain on bail pending further enquiries.