In the pitch-black, freezing waters of the River Nene, three terrified teenagers clawed their way out of a rapidly sinking Volkswagen Polo and fought desperately for the surface. What happened next, according to one of the survivors, turned an already horrific accident into an even more haunting mystery. Declan Berry, the 18-year-old believed to be driving the blue Polo that plunged off North Brink in Wisbech St Mary on March 17, 2026, may have actually escaped the car alongside his friends — only to be suddenly pulled under by a powerful whirlpool or swirling current that sealed his tragic fate.

The crash, which claimed the life of 16-year-old Eden Bunn and left Declan still missing more than a week later, has shaken the tight-knit communities of Wisbech and Sutton Bridge. Five friends — three girls and two boys, all aged 16 to 18 — had set out for what should have been a routine evening drive along the narrow road that runs parallel to the tidal River Nene. At around 8:20pm, the Polo veered off the road, rolled down the steep bank, and disappeared into the dark water with terrifying speed.

The three survivors — two 16-year-old girls and an 18-year-old boy — managed to free themselves from the flooding cabin and reach safety, though they suffered non-life-threatening injuries and were treated at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King’s Lynn. Their accounts of those frantic minutes have been shared in fragments, revealing the overwhelming panic inside the car as icy water rose rapidly around them. But one of the survivors has now come forward with a detail that has deepened the sorrow and confusion surrounding Declan’s disappearance.

According to this young witness, Declan appeared to escape the vehicle just as they did. In the chaos of the sinking car, with water surging in and disorientation setting in, the survivor believes they caught a glimpse of Declan breaking free from the driver’s side and swimming upward toward the surface alongside the others. For a brief, hopeful moment, it seemed all five might make it out alive. Then, without warning, a powerful underwater vortex or swirling current — possibly triggered by the tidal flow of the River Nene or the way the car disturbed the riverbed — suddenly engulfed Declan, dragging him back down into the depths before anyone could reach him.

The survivor described the moment as instantaneous and merciless. One second Declan was there, fighting toward the air like the rest of them; the next, he was gone, pulled away by a force stronger than any of them could resist. The cold, tidal nature of the Nene, with depths varying between nine and 15 feet and strong underwater movements, is known to create dangerous conditions that can disorient even strong swimmers. In the darkness and panic, the group’s desperate attempts to locate their friend proved futile as the current carried him away.

Eden Bunn, who had been in the rear of the car, was not as fortunate. Her body was recovered by specialist divers on Wednesday, March 18, still wearing her seatbelt, suggesting she had been unable to free herself in time as the water filled the cabin. Declan, however, remains missing despite extensive searches involving police, fire crews, and dive teams. The blue Polo itself was lifted from the river on Sunday, March 22, with no additional people found inside, confirming that at least some occupants had managed to exit the vehicle.

Local residents and emergency responders have spoken of the challenging conditions at North Brink. The long, straight, narrow road is flanked by a steep drop to the river on one side, and the tidal waters can create unpredictable currents, especially after dark. One resident who rushed to the scene with a torch described seeing the survivors emerge shivering and in shock, immediately calling out for Declan and Eden while trying to dive back in despite the danger. The community rallied quickly, with people lining the bank and shining lights into the water for hours, hoping against hope for any sign of the missing pair.

Families have been left devastated. Eden’s parents, Lisa and Dean, along with her siblings and young nephew, paid tribute to their “kindest, most loving girl,” whose world revolved around her beloved ponies, Daisy and Dolly. “Words cannot describe the tragedy that will stay with us until we are able to meet her again,” they said in an emotional statement. Declan’s family, including his father Alan and sister, have placed flowers at the site and spoken of their desperate hope to find him so they can lay him to rest. Plans have been discussed for a memorial seat on the riverbank where people can sit, remember both young lives, and reflect on the fragility of existence. “Forever 18 brother, miss and love you always,” one family member wrote.

The survivor’s account of Declan possibly escaping only to be claimed by a sudden whirlpool has added a new layer of heartbreak to an already tragic story. It suggests that in those critical moments after impact, escape was possible — yet the river’s unforgiving power turned a potential miracle into irreversible loss. Investigators continue to examine the recovered Polo for any mechanical issues, impact damage, or other factors that might explain why the car left the road so abruptly. Witnesses have described the vehicle appearing to plunge toward the water rather than simply drifting off course, raising questions about those final seconds inside the cabin.

Cambridgeshire Police have appealed for anyone with dashcam footage or information about the blue Polo in the Wisbech area between 7pm and 8:20pm on March 17 to come forward. Detective Inspector Craig Wheeler from the Road Policing Unit has emphasised the ongoing search for Declan, acknowledging the difficult tidal conditions that make the operation challenging. “We continue to support his family, who were present when the vehicle was recovered,” he said. The force has described the incident as “truly devastating” for everyone involved and is providing support to the survivors and both families as they navigate unimaginable grief and trauma.

The three young people who made it out are now dealing with the physical injuries and the profound psychological impact of that night. Survivors of such incidents often replay the moments endlessly — the sudden tilt, the rush of water, the desperate struggle, and the haunting realisation that not everyone surfaced. One survivor’s belief that Declan briefly joined them in the fight for survival only to be snatched away by a whirlpool has left the group grappling with a mix of relief at their own escape and overwhelming guilt and sorrow for their friends.

This tragedy has highlighted the hidden dangers of roads like North Brink, where a momentary lapse or unexplained swerve can lead to disaster when water lies just metres away. The cold temperature of the river dramatically reduces survival time, and strong underwater currents can turn a survivable submersion into a fatal one within minutes. Local calls for improved safety measures along the stretch have grown louder in the days since the crash.

As searches for Declan enter their second week, the community holds its breath. Flowers and tributes continue to accumulate at the site, a quiet testament to two bright young lives full of promise — Eden with her gentle love for animals, and Declan, a vibrant 18-year-old whose energy and kindness touched everyone around him.

The survivor’s recollection offers a sliver of clarity amid the confusion: in the darkness of the River Nene, Declan may have tasted freedom for a few precious seconds, swimming upward with the same determination as his friends. But the river, with its hidden whirlpools and relentless tidal pull, had other plans. That sudden, deadly current not only claimed a young life but left behind a chilling mystery that may never be fully explained.

For now, the families, friends, and the three survivors live with the weight of what happened in those five desperate minutes. They remember the laughter that filled the Polo just moments before impact, the ordinary joy of friends together on an ordinary evening, and the unimaginable horror that followed. Declan Berry and Eden Bunn will be remembered not for the river that took them, but for the light they brought into the world — a light that, though dimmed too soon, continues to shine in the hearts of those who loved them.

As the search goes on and investigators piece together every detail, the hope remains that answers will eventually surface. Until then, the story of that night serves as a sobering reminder of life’s fragility and the unpredictable power of nature. On the banks of the River Nene, where a blue Polo once disappeared beneath the waves, a community mourns, supports, and waits — forever changed by 30 seconds of silence, five minutes of terror, and one survivor’s haunting memory of a friend who almost made it out.