Kiwi Man Dies After Horrific Bus Smash Near Clapham Junction
A 25-year-old New Zealander tragically lost his life just a month after moving to the UK. Bradley Douglas, from Whangarei, was fatally hit by a bus near Clapham Junction station in South London last October, an inquest revealed.
What Happened That Night?
Mr Douglas was out with friends when he was asked to leave a nearby venue for being intoxicated. Moments after leaving the Clapham Grand entertainment venue, he stepped directly into the path of an oncoming bus. Despite the driver’s efforts to brake, the collision was unavoidable. Mr Douglas suffered a severe head injury and was rushed to St George’s University Hospital in Tooting, where he died five days later.
“I don’t believe this collision was avoidable,” said forensic collision investigator Laura Muggleton after reviewing CCTV footage.
Bus Driver’s Eyewear Blunder Not To Blame
The inquest revealed the bus driver had failed a roadside eyesight test and should not have been driving without glasses. However, experts confirmed the accident would have happened regardless. Emergency crews, including the London Ambulance Service, tried CPR and adrenaline treatment but could not save Mr Douglas.
Family Grieves As Organ Donation Approved
Mr Douglas’s devastated parents flew in from New Zealand and made the heartbreaking decision to withdraw life support. His family also consented to organ donation. Assistant Coroner Jean Harkin offered condolences, calling the incident “devastating.”
Tributes flooded in, remembering Bradley as a young man with a “big heart” and “special” to everyone who knew him.
