The body of 18-year-old Declan Berry has been recovered from the River Nene near Wisbech, bringing a sorrowful end to a two-week search that followed a fatal car crash involving five teenagers. New details from the post-mortem examination have revealed a particularly harrowing aspect of his final moments: the young driver is believed to have survived underwater for several hours before ultimately succumbing to drowning. Pathologists also indicated that his body was discovered approximately 100 yards downstream from the point where the blue Volkswagen Polo entered the water, carried by the river’s tidal currents.

The tragic incident unfolded on the evening of March 17 when the VW Polo, believed to be driven by Declan Berry, veered off North Brink in Wisbech St Mary, Cambridgeshire. The narrow road runs alongside the River Nene, separated only by a low grass bank. At around 8:20pm, the car left the carriageway, crossed the verge, and plunged into the cold, tidal waters at Crab Marsh. Five young people were inside: Declan, 16-year-old Eden Bunn from Sutton Bridge in Lincolnshire, two other 16-year-old girls, and an 18-year-old boy.

Three of the passengers — the two girls and the young man — managed to escape the sinking vehicle as it filled with water. They reached the riverbank and were taken to Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King’s Lynn with non-life-threatening injuries. Emergency services responded swiftly, with fire crews, paramedics, and specialist dive teams arriving at the scene. The following day, March 18, divers recovered Eden Bunn’s body from inside the submerged car. She had been a rear-seat passenger and was pronounced dead shortly afterwards. Her family described her as “the kindest, most loving girl,” whose life revolved around her beloved horses, Daisy and Dolly. The community rallied around them, with a fundraising page quickly raising thousands of pounds to support her funeral and family.

Declan Berry, from Wisbech, remained missing. The car itself was lifted from the river on March 22 with the help of specialist diving teams, but no further occupants were found inside. Searches for Declan continued intensively for nearly two weeks. Police deployed divers, a helicopter, river patrols, and even appealed to local volunteers and search-and-rescue groups. The River Nene in this area is challenging: it is tidal, influenced by the sea at The Wash, with strong currents, shifting depths, and often poor visibility due to silt and murkiness. Officers widened the search area along more than 11 kilometres of waterway, acknowledging the difficult conditions.

On or around March 31, a body was spotted at Crab Marsh in Wisbech by a local river official. Specialist teams recovered it promptly, and formal identification confirmed it was Declan Berry. His family, who had been anxiously waiting and even participating in early searches, was notified. Police appealed for continued privacy as they grieved.

The post-mortem examination provided some clarity — and new heartbreak — about Declan’s final hours. According to the pathologist’s findings, Declan survived underwater for a period of several hours after the car entered the river. This suggests he may have been trapped in an air pocket inside the vehicle or managed to escape the sinking Polo but was unable to reach the surface or the bank due to the cold water, strong currents, injuries, or disorientation in the darkness. Hypothermia and exhaustion are understood to have played a role, with drowning confirmed as the ultimate cause of death. The body had drifted roughly 100 yards downstream from the crash site, consistent with the river’s tidal flow carrying it along the channel.

Such details paint a picture of prolonged struggle in freezing, dark conditions. The River Nene’s waters in late March would have been bitterly cold, likely only a few degrees above freezing, accelerating the onset of hypothermia. Experts note that in cold-water immersion cases, survival time can sometimes extend longer than in warmer conditions due to the mammalian diving reflex, which can slow heart rate and redirect blood to vital organs, particularly in younger, fitter individuals. However, once that protective mechanism fades, unconsciousness and drowning follow rapidly. The fact that Declan endured for hours underscores both his determination to survive and the merciless nature of the environment he faced.

This revelation has deepened the sorrow felt across the Fenland communities of Wisbech, Sutton Bridge, and surrounding villages. Declan and Eden were part of a close circle of friends enjoying what should have been an ordinary evening outing. The three survivors are now recovering physically but will undoubtedly carry profound emotional trauma, having lost two close companions in such sudden and terrifying circumstances. Police have described the group as “good friends” who were simply heading home when disaster struck without warning.

The ongoing investigation by Cambridgeshire Police’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit is examining why the car suddenly left the road. Officers have appealed for witnesses who may have seen the blue VW Polo in the Wisbech area between 7pm and 8:20pm on March 17, or anyone with dashcam footage from North Brink. No final conclusions about speed, mechanical issues, driver distraction, or other factors have been publicly released, and the inquiry continues. Detective Chief Inspector Garry Webb and Detective Inspector Craig Wheeler have emphasised the tragic, accidental nature of the collision while stressing the need for accurate information to understand the sequence of events.

North Brink itself is a deceptively peaceful stretch of road. It serves local traffic through farmland and near the historic market town of Wisbech, but its proximity to the River Nene creates inherent risks. The grass bank offers minimal barrier, and at night, with limited lighting, a momentary lapse in attention, a swerve to avoid something, or even a medical event could prove catastrophic. The tidal river adds another layer of danger: its currents can be unpredictable, and the water level changes with the tide. Local residents have long known the waterway’s power, but this incident has prompted quiet reflection on whether additional safety measures — such as improved barriers, signage, or road markings — might be warranted along vulnerable sections.

Tributes have poured in for both young people. Eden’s family spoke movingly of her gentle nature and love for animals. Declan’s loved ones expressed being “absolutely devastated beyond words,” requesting privacy as they processed the loss and prepared to lay him to rest. Floral tributes, notes, teddy bears, and messages have accumulated at the crash site and along the riverbank, a visible sign of communal mourning in a region where tight-knit communities often come together in times of hardship.

The recovery of Declan’s body marks the end of the active search phase but opens a new chapter of grief and questions for the families. For the Berry family, finally being able to say goodbye brings a form of closure, yet the knowledge that their son fought for his life underwater for hours adds another layer of unimaginable pain. Pathological insights like these, while clinically important for the investigation and coroner’s inquest, also humanise the tragedy, reminding everyone of the terror and resilience involved in those final moments.

This accident highlights broader issues around road safety near water. Cold-water drowning incidents often involve rapid incapacitation due to shock, but cases where victims survive longer underwater — whether in air pockets or after escaping the vehicle — are particularly poignant. They serve as sobering reminders of how quickly a routine drive can turn into a fight for survival against powerful natural forces. In the Fens, where rivers and drains define the landscape, such risks are ever-present.

As the police investigation proceeds and the coroner prepares for inquests into both deaths, the focus remains on supporting the grieving families and the surviving teenagers. Community fundraisers and vigils have provided practical and emotional aid. Messages left at the scene speak of love, missed futures, and the hope that something positive might emerge from the loss — perhaps greater awareness or safety improvements that could protect others.

Declan Berry and Eden Bunn were young people with their whole lives ahead of them — friends enjoying time together in a quiet corner of Cambridgeshire. Their story ended beside the flowing waters of the River Nene on an ordinary March evening. The new details about Declan’s prolonged struggle underwater add depth to the tragedy, illustrating not just the suddenness of the crash but the desperate hours that followed. In the days and weeks ahead, as funerals are held and memories shared, the communities of Wisbech and beyond will continue to hold both families in their thoughts, united in sorrow for two bright lives cut short far too soon.