A family visit to Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother (QEQM) Hospital in Margate ended in tragedy when four-year-old Zaahir Jan was killed in a sudden accident.
On Thursday, August 7, 2025, just after 4 p.m., Zaahir was leaving the hospital with his family after visiting his grandmother. Near the entrance to the A\&E department on Ramsgate Road, he was struck by a white single-decker bus.
Witnesses described chaos — a blur of movement, screeching brakes, and the horrifying realization that a child had been hit. Emergency responders rushed him back into the hospital, but despite their efforts, he was pronounced dead a short time later.
Kent Police confirmed his next of kin were informed immediately. A spokesperson said officers were called to the scene shortly after 4 p.m. following reports of a collision involving a bus and a pedestrian.
Zaahir, the youngest of five siblings, was known for his energy, charm, and a smile that could brighten any room. His death comes just six days after the family lost his cousin’s mother, compounding their grief. A cousin described the double loss as “unbearable.”
His mother, Azaria, shared her heartbreak in a GoFundMe appeal for burial costs, calling him “our sweet funny boy with a cheeky smile that could make anyone’s heart full.” She expressed the pain of never again holding, cuddling, or hearing her son.
The fundraiser, linked to a campaign for his cousin’s mother, seeks support for two funerals within one devastating week. Tributes have poured in across social media, with friends, neighbors, and strangers sharing photos and memories of Zaahir’s joy-filled life.
Kent Police are appealing for witnesses and dashcam footage as investigations continue. Outside QEQM Hospital, the silence feels heavier, marked by the absence of a little boy’s laughter.
