On a warm Thursday afternoon, August 7, 2025, tragedy struck outside the Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospital in Margate, Kent. Four-year-old Zaahir Jan, described by his family as sweet, funny, and endlessly charming, was fatally struck by a white single-decker Stagecoach bus near the entrance to the hospital's A&E department. He had just been visiting his grandmother, a simple family moment that ended in heartbreak.
According to BBC News, Zaahir left the hospital on foot before the crash occurred. It was around 16:00 BST when the accident unfolded. Despite desperate efforts by emergency services—including an air ambulance landing nearby—Zaahir was taken back inside the hospital and confirmed dead a short while later. The loss sent shockwaves through his family and the local community. As Zaahir’s father, Navid Feizi, told the BBC, “This was the saddest day of my life – he was my heart.”
Navid, a tyre fitter by trade, remembered his son’s curiosity about his work, saying, “He was the cutest, smartest, charmed boy. I am a tyre fitter and he always wanted to work with me.” His pain was palpable as he added, “As soon as I received the call my day turned to nightmare. I wish I was there to stop him running.” In a message that resonates with parents everywhere, Navid urged others to “watch out for your kids when they’re out running around because they are kids.”
Zaahir’s mother, Azaria Green, launched a GoFundMe appeal to help cover the funeral costs, describing her son as “a sweet, funny boy with a cheeky smile that could make anyone’s heart full.” The outpouring of support was swift and heartfelt. Within just over a day, the fundraiser had collected more than £6,500, as reported by BBC Kent and KentOnline. Azaria’s grief spilled over onto the fundraising page, where she wrote, “I am so lost, he was my son, my most beautiful little Jan. I don’t know what to do, I can’t believe you are gone from me. I didn’t even get to tell you how much I love you.”
She continued, “The smile that we can’t see again. Can’t hold him. Can’t cuddle him. Can’t hear him. Can’t have him sleeping in my bed tonight. But I can try to give him the best and most comfortable burial.” Her words, raw and unfiltered, captured the depth of a mother’s loss. On August 8, family and friends gathered at the hospital entrance where Zaahir died, laying blankets, flowers, sweets, and letters—a makeshift memorial to a life cut heartbreakingly short.
The family’s grief was compounded by another tragedy: just days before Zaahir’s accident, Azaria’s sister-in-law, Taz Green, was found dead by her teenage son, on the eve of her 52nd birthday. As reported by KentOnline, the family’s devastation was overwhelming. Kyia Palmer, Taz’s daughter, spoke about the loss of her young cousin, describing the events as “unbelievable. He was so tiny.”
Stagecoach, whose bus was involved in the incident, issued a statement expressing their condolences: “We can confirm that one of our buses was involved in a tragic incident within the grounds of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospital in Margate. Emergency services attended the scene, and a child was taken into the hospital, where they sadly passed away. Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with the family and all those affected at this incredibly difficult time. We are co-operating fully with the ongoing police investigation and are ensuring that support is in place for our driver.”
East Kent Hospitals chief executive Tracey Fletcher also offered sympathy, stating, “We are very saddened by yesterday’s tragic incident and send our sincere condolences to the family.” The hospital and its staff, along with the wider community, have rallied to support the grieving family in any way they can.
Police sealed off Ramsgate Road outside the hospital for several hours following the accident, reopening it at around 6:45 pm. A spokesperson for Kent Police outlined the facts: “The bus, a white single-decker vehicle, was travelling near the entrance to the A&E department. It is reported the pedestrian, a four-year-old boy, left the hospital on foot and a collision took place. The child was taken inside the hospital, and a short while later, was sadly confirmed deceased. His next of kin has been informed.”
Kent Police’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit is now leading the inquiry. Investigators are urging anyone with relevant information, including witnesses and passengers who were on the bus but have not yet spoken to police, to come forward. They are also seeking CCTV and dashcam footage that could shed light on the circumstances of the accident. The police have provided a dedicated phone number and email address for tips, emphasizing the importance of community involvement in understanding exactly what happened.
The tragedy has sparked an outpouring of support, not only in donations but also in messages of sympathy and solidarity. The GoFundMe page has become a digital space for collective mourning, as well as a practical resource for the family’s immediate needs. Azaria’s words on the page—“Please, if anyone can help us to make his burial as beautiful as he was, please, I will be so grateful”—have resonated with hundreds of donors, many of whom are strangers moved by the family’s loss.
Zaahir’s memory lives on in the tributes left at the hospital, in the stories shared by his parents, and in the community’s response. His father’s simple but powerful advice—to cherish and watch over our children—echoes in the hearts of many. In the wake of such a sudden and senseless tragedy, the community’s compassion and willingness to help offer a small measure of comfort.
As the investigation continues, and as the family prepares to say their final goodbyes, the hope is that lessons can be drawn and support can be sustained—not just for Zaahir’s loved ones, but for all families facing unimaginable loss. The story of Zaahir Jan is a reminder of the fragility of life, the strength of family, and the power of a community to come together in the darkest of times.