Family pay tribute to boy who died after being hit by bus

Jonathan Debnam, a pupil at Samuel Whitbread Academy in Clifton, died on Thursday (July 4) when he was hit by a bus on the A600 High Road, just outside the village of Shortstown, where he lived.

The family of the 14-year-old, who was a former pupil at Robert Bloomfield Academy in Shefford, said: "We are truly devastated by the tragic loss of our beloved son.

"Jonathan was a funny, kind and intelligent boy who loved his family and friends with all his heart.

"He was an active member of the Army cadets, participating in cadet camps and supporting the other cadets by teaching first aid.

"He had plans to train to work for the Disasters Emergency Committee, so he could make a career out of helping others in their time of need.

Jonathan was an active member of the Army cadets. (Image: Courtesy of Bedfordshire Police)

"He was a budding chef from an early age, and an animal lover, who especially loved his cats, with the biggest of hearts.

"Above all else, he had a beautiful and caring soul and will be missed by all his family and friends more than words can express. Rest in peace our sweet boy."

The family has asked for privacy at this tragic time.

Jonathan was a keen animal lover. (Image: Courtesy of Bedfordshire Police)

Detective Sergeant Craig Wheeler, from the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Roads Policing Unit, said: "This is an incredibly sad incident, and our sympathies are with the friends and family of Jonathan.

"We are asking anyone who witnessed the collision, or the events leading up to it, to get in touch.

"We would be particularly keen to hear from anyone who may have any dashcam footage of the incident, or of the immediate area of the A600 in and around Shortstown, during the time leading up to the collision, which was first reported to police just before 12pm."

Anyone with information is asked to contact police via orlo.uk/ECHv7, or by calling 101, quoting Operation Dudley or reference 139 of 4 July.