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| Knowsley: Autistic boy left on locked schoolbus for hours | Knowsley: Autistic boy left on locked schoolbus for hours |
| (31 minutes later) | |
| Thomas, 12, has complex health needs including severe asthma and kidney problems | Thomas, 12, has complex health needs including severe asthma and kidney problems |
| A vulnerable autistic schoolboy "could have died" after being left on a locked school bus for more than two hours, his mother said. | A vulnerable autistic schoolboy "could have died" after being left on a locked school bus for more than two hours, his mother said. |
| Jennifer Evans said her 12-year-old son Thomas was only discovered by when he sounded the horn. | Jennifer Evans said her 12-year-old son Thomas was only discovered by when he sounded the horn. |
| Ms Evans, from Stockbridge Village in Merseyside, told the BBC she had done "nothing but cry" after being told her son had been driven back to a bus depot in Kirkby instead of being dropped off at school. | |
| The bus company, Knowsley-based Supreme Executive Travel, apologised for the 24 April incident, said it had conducted a full investigation, and sacked a member of staff. | |
| "I've barely slept," 39-year-old Ms Evans said. | "I've barely slept," 39-year-old Ms Evans said. |
| "The thought of him going out of this house now really frightens me because it just goes to show how vulnerable he is when I'm not there to protect him. | "The thought of him going out of this house now really frightens me because it just goes to show how vulnerable he is when I'm not there to protect him. |
| "I'm putting all my trust in these strangers and I'm so scared because you don't really know a person, do you? And then these things happen. | "I'm putting all my trust in these strangers and I'm so scared because you don't really know a person, do you? And then these things happen. |
| "It just really makes you just want to wrap him up in cotton wool." | "It just really makes you just want to wrap him up in cotton wool." |
| Alt Bridge School said it was "truly sorry" for its part in Thomas's ordeal | Alt Bridge School said it was "truly sorry" for its part in Thomas's ordeal |
| Thomas, who has complex needs, was supposed to have been dropped off at Alt Bridge Secondary School, which caters to children with special educational needs, in Huyton at just after 09:30 BST. | Thomas, who has complex needs, was supposed to have been dropped off at Alt Bridge Secondary School, which caters to children with special educational needs, in Huyton at just after 09:30 BST. |
| An investigation report, seen by the BBC, said school staff were instead called by Supreme Executive Travel at 11:45 to say Thomas had been found at the depot. | An investigation report, seen by the BBC, said school staff were instead called by Supreme Executive Travel at 11:45 to say Thomas had been found at the depot. |
| Alt Bridge has also said it was "truly sorry" for its part in Thomas's ordeal and acknowledged a "combination of things" went wrong that morning with handover procedures. | Alt Bridge has also said it was "truly sorry" for its part in Thomas's ordeal and acknowledged a "combination of things" went wrong that morning with handover procedures. |
| It said a safeguarding incident in the school had also delayed staff from contacting Ms Evans to ask where Thomas was. | It said a safeguarding incident in the school had also delayed staff from contacting Ms Evans to ask where Thomas was. |
| Ms Evans said she was contacted by a manager at Supreme Executive Travel around the same time. She told her Thomas had been found after sounding the horn on the bus. | |
| She said: "My son suffered that day. He could've died really. | She said: "My son suffered that day. He could've died really. |
| "I know it sounds drastic, but he could have because of his severe asthma." | "I know it sounds drastic, but he could have because of his severe asthma." |
| She said in January 2024, Thomas had suffered an asthma attack so severe he stopped breathing and she had to perform CPR until an ambulance arrived. | She said in January 2024, Thomas had suffered an asthma attack so severe he stopped breathing and she had to perform CPR until an ambulance arrived. |
| Ms Evans said Thomas also has very low kidney function, which meant that not being able to go to the toilet for an extended period could have had serious repercussions. | Ms Evans said Thomas also has very low kidney function, which meant that not being able to go to the toilet for an extended period could have had serious repercussions. |
| 'I want answers' | 'I want answers' |
| Thomas, who can only repeat back words that are said to him and is considered non-verbal, had been unable to tell his mother his feelings about what happened. | Thomas, who can only repeat back words that are said to him and is considered non-verbal, had been unable to tell his mother his feelings about what happened. |
| But she said he had suffered from night terrors since that day, and that she suspected they were caused by the trauma of being locked on the bus. | But she said he had suffered from night terrors since that day, and that she suspected they were caused by the trauma of being locked on the bus. |
| Ms Evans also said she has been frustrated by the response of Supreme Executive Travel, who she accused of not answering her questions. | Ms Evans also said she has been frustrated by the response of Supreme Executive Travel, who she accused of not answering her questions. |
| "I want answers, I want the company to be held accountable for their actions," she said. | "I want answers, I want the company to be held accountable for their actions," she said. |
| Dean Dumbell, group chief executive for Supreme Executive Travel, told the BBC: "We take full responsibility for this situation and are committed to ensuring that similar incidents are avoided in the future. | Dean Dumbell, group chief executive for Supreme Executive Travel, told the BBC: "We take full responsibility for this situation and are committed to ensuring that similar incidents are avoided in the future. |
| "Within 24 hours of the incident, the entire organisation underwent an emergency briefing and further training to reinforce the robust protocols we already have in place." | "Within 24 hours of the incident, the entire organisation underwent an emergency briefing and further training to reinforce the robust protocols we already have in place." |
| Mr Dumbell said a letter of apology had been written and sent to Ms Evans on 6 May, which she said she had not received. | Mr Dumbell said a letter of apology had been written and sent to Ms Evans on 6 May, which she said she had not received. |
| Knowsley Council, which commissioned Supreme Executive Travel to provide transport to Alt Bridge, said a Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) investigation had taken place. | Knowsley Council, which commissioned Supreme Executive Travel to provide transport to Alt Bridge, said a Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) investigation had taken place. |
| A spokesperson said: "A number of issues were highlighted where processes were not followed, and these have been picked up directly with the transport provider and the school." | A spokesperson said: "A number of issues were highlighted where processes were not followed, and these have been picked up directly with the transport provider and the school." |
| A statement from Alt Bridge added: "Lessons have been learned and additional preventive measures have been introduced by school." | A statement from Alt Bridge added: "Lessons have been learned and additional preventive measures have been introduced by school." |
| Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on BBC Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram, and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer. | Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on BBC Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram, and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer. |