Young Boy With Autism Traumatised After Strapped in Seat On Bus For Hours

The parents of a six-year-old boy with autism who was left strapped into a car seat on his school bus for hours were left heartbroken as the boy has been traumatised from the experience.

Parents Anthony and Sophie were upset after their son, Brandon Presley, from Torbay in Devon, UK, was left strapped into a car seat on his school bus and no one noticed he was missing.

The vehicle was then secured in a lock up for around five hours, with the boy still sitting inside. It was not until the driver returned at 2.30pm to begin the afternoon school run that he found the little boy was still on board. The boy was still also in his nappies, with no food and water in a warehouse where buses are kept.

Brandon was picked up by a bus run by company Torbay Minibuses to travel to seven-mile journey to Mayfield School in Torquay, on April 27.

Mr Presley, 36, said: “I went bonkers when we found out. We took him to the doctors for dehydration. They checked him over and said he was ok, but just to keep an eye on him,” he said, adding that since the incident, the boy had suffered mental and emotional trauma.

“After it happened he was really, really quiet. He was stressed about it. He wouldn’t go in a car seat for about week after it happened. He is fine now as he really loves going on the bus,” he said.

A Torbay Council spokesperson said that the Torbay Council has already launched an investigation into what it described at the time as a ‘very serious’ and ‘traumatic’ incident.

“As soon as we became aware of this very serious incident we started a full investigation with all concerned so we can fully understand how this happened.

“We supported the family at what must be a traumatic time for them and their son and have been keeping them informed throughout this investigation.

“We will ensure that we act on all the recommendations that come out of this investigation,” the spokesperson said.

However, according to Mr Presley despite the dismissal of the school’s supervisor, the driver kept his job – and the council is still using the firm.

“They have introduced new measures where they kids have to signed off when they get picked up and dropped off, but it’s too little too late. The measures should have been in place anyway. How can you leave a little boy on a bus all day? Now the investigation has been closed and the assistant has lost her job, but the driver still works for them,” he said.

He also said that three weeks ago, when he received a call from Torbay Council childrens’ transport division, he learned that the driver is back working with them and even asked “is he ok to come and pick up your son now?”.

“Absolutely not,” he said.

Torbay Minibuses has not responded to a request for comment.

Source: Dailymail.co.uk