Beau Croucher, a 14-year-old schoolboy from Portsmouth, has died in hospital two days after being struck by a bus near The Hard transport hub. The incident occurred at around 4.25pm on Monday, and Beau passed away on Wednesday. His family, supported by specialist officers from Hampshire Constabulary, have released a heartfelt tribute describing him as 'our beautiful, innocent baby boy'.
Family tribute and investigation details
The driver of the bus, a 39-year-old man from Portsmouth, was arrested on suspicion of causing serious injury by dangerous driving. He has since been released on bail until November 17 while the investigation continues. Hampshire Constabulary confirmed that Beau's family are being supported by specialist officers during this difficult time.
In a statement released through police, the family said: 'On Monday, Beau went out for the afternoon. He never came home. Right now, all of our love, our focus and our entire world is Beau.' They added that 'these are the stories you hear about and think, “That could never happen to us.” You never, in a million years, imagine that something so unimaginable could happen to your perfect little family.'
Remembering Beau's character and passions
The family remembered Beau as 'our absolute world, our heartbeat, our obsession', noting that 'to know Beau was to love him'. They highlighted his unique humour and intelligence, saying he was in top sets at school and 'carried himself with a quiet confidence and kindness that never went unnoticed'. Beau was described as 'Pompey's number one fan', enjoying going to games with his dad and grandad, and had recently celebrated his birthday in London and visited Cornwall.
The tribute concluded with the family expressing gratitude for the support they have received: 'Our friends and family have been our pillars these past few days... We have been completely overwhelmed and comforted by the outpouring of love, messages and support. We thank you as a family.'
Community mourning and Stagecoach response
Flowers have been left at the scene, with one note from a school friend reading: 'To Beau, RIP Fly High. I will never forget our memories. We had such a good time in science. Can't believe what happened. We will all miss u lots. Forever 14.'
A Stagecoach spokesperson said: 'We can confirm that one of our bus drivers was involved in a collision with a pedestrian in Portsmouth yesterday, which resulted in the pedestrian sustaining injuries. We are cooperating fully with Hampshire Constabulary and the local authorities, who are leading the investigation. As the matter is ongoing, it would not be appropriate for us to comment further at this stage.'
