**Tragic Death of Four-Year-Old After Bus Accident Outside Margate Hospital**
A young boy has tragically lost his life after being struck by a bus just outside the Queen Elizabeth Queen Mother Hospital in Margate, Kent. The incident, which occurred on Thursday afternoon, has left the local community in shock and deep sadness.
Emergency services were called to the scene shortly after 4pm following reports of a serious collision involving a four-year-old boy and a white single-decker bus. The accident happened near the entrance to the Accident & Emergency department, a busy area regularly frequented by patients, staff, and visitors.
According to information released by Kent Police, the boy had apparently left the hospital building on foot moments before the collision unfolded. The precise details of the events leading up to the tragedy remain under investigation as authorities work to establish the full sequence of events.
Despite the proximity of medical staff and immediate assistance, the child was pronounced dead soon after being taken back inside the hospital. The rapid response by hospital personnel sadly could not alter the devastating outcome. The loss of such a young life has inevitably cast a sombre mood over both the hospital and the local community.
Kent Police’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit has launched a full inquiry in an effort to understand how such a catastrophic event could occur in a place dedicated to care and recovery. Officers are appealing for any witnesses or individuals who may have dashcam or CCTV footage of the incident to come forward and assist with their ongoing investigation.
A spokesperson for Kent Police commented, “This is a deeply upsetting incident, and our thoughts are with the boy’s family at this incredibly difficult time. We are urging anyone who saw what happened or may have relevant information to contact our Serious Collision Investigation Unit as soon as possible.”
The identity of the child has not yet been made public, and specialists are understood to be providing support to the boy’s family as they come to terms with their heartbreaking loss. Support services have also been offered to hospital staff and any individuals affected by the incident, with many expressing their condolences on social media and in statements to the press.
Local residents and regular visitors to the hospital have reacted with disbelief at the news. Some have expressed concern about road safety around the busy hospital entrance, where vehicles and pedestrians often cross paths, particularly during peak visiting times. The tragedy has reignited calls for a review of traffic management and pedestrian safety in the immediate area, with suggestions for additional signage, speed controls, and improved crossing points.
Officials at the Queen Elizabeth Queen Mother Hospital have yet to comment in detail but are understood to be cooperating fully with the police investigation. The hospital’s management has said it is committed to supporting the family during this deeply distressing period and is working to ensure the safety and wellbeing of patients and visitors going forward.
This heartbreaking event serves as a stark reminder of the fragility of life and the unforeseen dangers that can sometimes occur in even the most familiar places. As the investigation continues, the local community mourns the loss of a young life and reflects on what steps might be taken to prevent such tragedies in the future.