In an astonishing turn of events, a teenager who was at the heart of a disastrous case of mistaken identity is making an extraordinary recovery. Police had erroneously informed his parents that he had died, while mistakenly assuring another family that their son was still alive.

Trevor Wynn, a 17-year-old, was initially reported dead to his family following a horrific road accident near Rotherham, South Yorkshire, on December 13. Meanwhile, South Yorkshire Police communicated to the family of 18-year-old Joshua Johnson that their son had miraculously survived the crash and was fighting for his life.

The mix-up unraveled in dramatic fashion three weeks later when Trevor regained consciousness from his coma. Upon waking, he informed medical staff of his true identity, tragically confirming that it was Joshua who had not survived the accident.

Now, Trevor is back home in Worksop, Nottinghamshire, and is in the process of rebuilding his life. Despite the severe injuries that initially barred visitors during his intensive care stay, he is defying medical predictions with his recovery. Although he has lost feeling in one arm, his progress has been encouraging.

Friends of Trevor share that while he has a challenging road to rehabilitation ahead, his determination and resilience have been nothing short of inspiring.

Friends say the youngster still faces a road of rehabilitation but has defied doctors’ expectations, and aside from losing feeling in one arm, is recovering well.

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.’

Another friend described Trevor’s recovery as a ‘bit of a miracle’, adding: ‘He’s a fighter, that lad. After everything he’s been through, the fact he’s up and walking is incredible.’

Trevor Wynn (pictured), 17, spent three weeks in a coma and his family were told he was dead after a horror car crash that killed his friend. Now, the teenager has made a remarkable recovery 

The unbelievable mix-up followed a fatal crash in the early hours of December 13 when a silver Toyota Corolla left Todwick Road near Dinnington, South Yorkshire, and collided with a tree.

The car was being driven by 17-year-old Summer Louise Scott, from Worksop, who died at the scene.

Joshua, a stock car racing enthusiast from Rotherham who had been travelling in the vehicle with Trevor, also died at the scene.

But in the chaotic aftermath police mistakenly concluded that Trevor had been killed and that Joshua was the teenager who had survived and been taken to hospital in a critical condition.

For 22 agonising days the Wynn family believed they were preparing to bury their son, with a funeral set to be held just days after the devastating error finally came to light.

The reality only began to unravel when Joshua’s father, Lee Johnson, went to Rotherham hospital on January 4 to see the teenager he believed to be his son come out of sedation – and instead found Trevor.

The injured teenager had regained consciousness and asked medical staff: ‘Why are you calling me Josh?’

The tragic misidentification occurred because police had relied on photographs rather than carrying out forensic checks, amid claims officers were following a policy introduced during the Covid pandemic.

Joshua Johnson (pictured), 18, died in the horror road crash near Rotherham, South Yorkshire, on December 13. Tragically, his parents were told he had survived the crash and the mix up was only discovered when Trevor woke up  

An pre-inquest hearing heard how officers used personal belongings found at the scene of the crash to contact Trevor’s mother, Charlotte, to inform her of the crash.

She later provided them with her son’s college identification card as well as a description of his appearance, build and footwear.

One officer took the ID card to the mortuary at Rotherham Hospital, where the body of the deceased teenager had been registered as an unknown male.

After comparing the body’s appearance, build and clothing with the information provided, he concluded it was Trevor.

Meanwhile another officer had travelled in the ambulance with the surviving male passenger, who had been sedated at the scene and taken to hospital.

The officer had been told the survivor was Joshua Johnson and obtained a photograph from his driving licence.

Hospital staff and the police officer compared the image with the patient and concluded the teenager being treated was Joshua.

After Joshua’s father raised the alarm, police then obtained dental records, which confirmed the boy in hospital was actually Trevor.

Mr Stoner previously recalled receiving a call from TJ’s mum Charlotte: ‘She told me ‘Sit down! I have something to tell you. He’s still alive. He’s still alive!

‘I said ‘What?’ I just couldn’t believe it. It was such a big shock. Then she explained the patient mix-up – that it wasn’t Trevor who was dead, but another boy. How do you process that? How can you?’

Asked if Trevor’s parents were considering legal action against South Yorkshire Police for the trauma they endured after believing their son was dead, 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 when approached by the Daily Mail other than to confirm her son was now at home.

Joshua’s grieving parents, Hannah and Lee, and his brother Callum, are meanwhile said to be ‘utterly devastated’ by their loss.

They have not spoken publicly but in an earlier statement referenced how they spent ‘hours in hospital with who we now know to be Trevor’.

‘What we have been through and are continuing to go through is unimaginable. We never wanted him to be alone. Only those we shared this time with could understand how this went on for so long,’ they said.

‘Neither us nor Josh’s brother can imagine life without him, and as we adjust to this new world and only just begin our journey with grief, we ask that our privacy is respected.’

Josh was remembered by friends as a ‘wonderful young man’ who had ‘his whole life ahead of him taken far too soon’.

His parents wrote on an online fundraiser which has raised more than £16,500: ‘Us as a family would like to thank you all and express our love to all of you for your support you are giving us. It is extremely overwhelming.’

The Independent Office for Police Conduct has launched an investigation into the blunder.

South Yorkshire Police has also referred itself to the watchdog.

Assistant Chief Constable Colin McFarlane admitted the mistake would have caused ‘huge shock’ and ‘additional trauma’ for the families involved.

He said in January: ‘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.’

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