Families pay tribute to teenagers after fatal Wisbech crash

Eden Bunn died after the car she was travelling in entered the River Nene at North Brink on Tuesday

Declan Berry and Eden Bunn
Author: Shaunna BurnsPublished 19th Mar 2026
Last updated 19th Mar 2026
Families have paid tribute to two teenagers involved in a tragic crash in Wisbech, in which their car entered the River Nene.

Eden Bunn, a 16-year-old from Sutton Bridge, lost her life in the incident on Tuesday, while Declan Berry, an 18-year-old from Wisbech who is believed to have been driving the vehicle, remains missing.

Eden’s family, including her parents Lisa and Dean, brother Jay, sister Shelby, and nephew Axl, said:

“Eden was the kindest, most loving girl we could ever wish for. Her horses – Daisy and Dolly – were her world, and she was ours. Words cannot describe the tragedy that will stay with us until we are able to meet her again.”

Declan’s family and friends expressed their heartbreak, saying:

“We are absolutely devastated beyond words and ask for privacy during this tragic time.”

Three other individuals – two girls aged 16 and an 18-year-old boy – were able to escape the car, and were taken to Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King’s Lynn with non-life-threatening injuries.

One 16-year-old girl remains in hospital, while the others have been discharged.

Detective Inspector Craig Wheeler from the Serious Collision Investigation Unit commented on the incident:

“This is a truly devastating collision, for all involved. My thoughts are with the friends and family of Eden and Declan during this truly horrific time.

Our investigation is at an early stage, but I would appeal to anyone who may have seen the collision or the blue VW Polo in the Wisbech area between 7pm and 8:20pm on Tuesday to contact police.

Our focus remains on trying to find Declan; however, due to the challenging nature of the river, this could be a timely process. During this period, there will be an increased police presence along the River Nene while we continue our efforts to find him.”

Witnesses to the incident or those who saw the car prior are urged to report their information through the police force website, referencing incident 515 of 17th March.

Along the narrow stretch of North Brink in Wisbech St Mary, Cambridgeshire, colourful bouquets, teddy bears, and handwritten notes now line the grass verge where a blue Volkswagen Polo left the road and plunged into the River Nene on the evening of March 17, 2026. The tributes have grown steadily in the days since the tragedy, with Declan Berry’s family among those who have laid flowers at the scene. Yet nearly nine days on, the exact sequence of events in the crucial moments before the crash — and inside the sinking car — remains shrouded in uncertainty, leaving the tight-knit Fenland community desperate for closure as searches for the 18-year-old continue.

The incident unfolded shortly after 8:20 p.m. on Tuesday, March 17, when the southbound VW Polo, carrying five teenagers aged 16 to 18, veered off North Brink — a single-track road running alongside the tidal River Nene — and entered the water. Three of the occupants managed to escape with non-life-threatening injuries. The body of 16-year-old Eden Bunn from nearby Sutton Bridge was recovered by divers the following day, Wednesday, March 18. The car itself was lifted from the river on Sunday, March 22, with specialist diving teams; no other occupants were found inside. Declan Berry, believed to have been driving and a Wisbech local who had passed his test only months earlier, is still missing.

Cambridgeshire Police have described the crash as “devastating” but have released few specifics about the cause or the final seconds before impact. Detective Inspector Craig Wheeler of the Road Policing Unit has repeatedly appealed for dashcam footage or witness sightings of the blue Polo between 7 p.m. and 8:20 p.m. on March 17, citing the river’s challenging tidal conditions and depths. Officers remain at the scene, and searches have extended downstream toward Guyhirn, involving police, fire crews, and the National Police Air Service (NPAS). The force continues to support both families, who were present when the vehicle was recovered.

What exactly happened in those critical moments before the car left the road is still unclear. Early local accounts mentioned the vehicle possibly striking a pothole on the poorly maintained stretch, causing a loss of control. Unverified social media posts circulating in local groups have added layers of speculation — from a sudden acceleration heard by one resident, to conflicting survivor recollections of events inside the rapidly flooding car. Some anonymous accounts claim Declan remained composed and tried to help others escape, while others describe total disorientation and silence from the driver. Police have not confirmed or commented on any of these details, stressing only that the investigation is ongoing and that anyone with information should quote incident 515 of March 17.

The physical memorials now dotting North Brink reflect the depth of local grief. Declan’s father Alan and brother Connor have laid flowers there, with Connor speaking movingly about his younger brother’s dreams of joining the Royal Engineers and his love of fixing bikes and cars. The Berry family has even discussed plans to create a permanent memorial on the riverbank — a platform with seating so people can sit, contemplate, and remember both Declan and Eden. Tributes to Eden describe her as a “kindest, most loving girl” devoted to her horses. A GoFundMe for her funeral has raised thousands in a short time, while friends and neighbours have spoken of two young lives full of promise cut short on what should have been an ordinary evening drive.