A four-year-old boy has died after being struck by a bus outside Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospital in Margate, prompting Kent Police to launch an urgent appeal for witnesses to the tragic incident.
The fatal collision occurred shortly after 4pm on Thursday when a white single-decker bus travelling near the entrance to the hospital’s A&E department struck the young child. Kent Police confirmed the boy had left the hospital on foot moments before the incident took place.
Emergency responders immediately rushed the critically injured child back inside the hospital, where medical staff attempted to save his life. Despite their efforts, the boy was pronounced dead a short time later at the same facility where the collision had occurred.
Kent Police have confirmed that the child’s next of kin have been informed about the tragic incident. The force has not released the identity of the victim at this stage of the investigation.
Investigators from Kent Police’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit (SCIU) have taken charge of the case and are conducting a thorough examination of the circumstances surrounding the fatal collision. The specialist unit, trained in handling serious road traffic incidents, is working to establish the exact sequence of events.
Officers are particularly keen to speak with passengers who were travelling on the bus at the time of the collision but have not yet provided statements. Their accounts could prove crucial in understanding how the tragedy unfolded outside the busy hospital entrance.
A Kent Police spokesperson issued an urgent appeal: “Witnesses, including passengers travelling on the bus who have not yet spoken to police, should call 01622 798538 or email sciu.td@kent.pnn.police.uk, quoting reference KH/055/25.
The force is also requesting CCTV footage from the area and dashcam recordings from any vehicles that were near the hospital at the time. Such evidence could provide vital information about the moments leading up to the collision.
Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospital, commonly known as QEQM, is one of East Kent’s major acute hospitals. Located on St Peter’s Road in Margate, it serves as a key medical facility for the Thanet area and beyond, providing comprehensive A&E services alongside other specialist departments.
The hospital’s A&E entrance, where the incident occurred, is a busy area with regular vehicle movements including ambulances, buses, and private vehicles dropping off patients. The site features designated drop-off zones intended for quick pick-ups and drop-offs near the emergency department.
Public transport links to the hospital include the Stagecoach ‘Loop’ bus service, which provides frequent connections between the hospital and other Thanet towns including Margate, Cliftonville, Broadstairs and Ramsgate. The hospital is also served by route 8 and 8A buses from Canterbury, Birchington, Westgate and Northdown Park.
The tragedy raises questions about pedestrian safety around hospital sites, particularly near emergency departments where vulnerable patients, including young children, may be present. Hospitals typically implement various safety measures including designated crossings, speed restrictions, and clear signage to protect pedestrians.
Kent Police’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit specialises in examining fatal and serious injury road traffic collisions. The unit comprises specially trained officers who conduct detailed investigations, including scene examination, vehicle inspection, and witness interviews to establish the circumstances of serious incidents.
Under Kent Police policy, serious collision investigations follow strict protocols to ensure thorough examination of all evidence. This includes securing the scene, gathering physical evidence, obtaining witness statements, and analysing any available video footage.
The investigation will likely examine multiple factors including the bus’s speed, visibility conditions, any safety measures in place at the location, and the circumstances that led to the child being in the path of the vehicle. Such investigations can take considerable time as officers work to establish a complete picture of events.
For the local community and hospital staff, the incident represents a devastating tragedy. Hospitals are places of healing and hope, making such incidents particularly distressing for all involved, including medical staff who attempted to save the young victim’s life.
The bus operator has not been identified at this stage, and it remains unclear whether it was a scheduled public service or another form of transport. Kent Police have not released information about the bus driver or whether any arrests have been made.
As the investigation continues, police stress the importance of anyone with information coming forward, no matter how insignificant it may seem. Even small details could prove crucial in understanding how this tragedy occurred and potentially preventing similar incidents in the future.
Anyone who witnessed the collision or has relevant information is urged to contact Kent Police’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit on 01622 798538 or via email at sciu.td@kent.pnn.police.uk, quoting reference KH/055/25.
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