An inquest jury has recommended that The Kowloon Motor Bus Co. (1933) Ltd improve its checks after service to ensure drivers inspect the upper decks of buses.
The 33-year-old passenger became unresponsive on a 61M service during the early hours of 6 March 2025. The overnight driver told the inquest that he took the bus to its terminus at about 1.51am, checked the upper deck through CCTV and called out to ask whether anyone remained on board. He then drove to the depot without physically inspecting the upper deck, and the bus later returned to service.
At about 7am, a passenger alerted the morning driver, who found the man around the third row from the rear of the upper deck. After receiving no response, the driver called an ambulance. The passenger was taken to Tuen Mun Hospital, where his death was confirmed; the jury recorded that the death occurred on the bus.
The five-member jury unanimously ruled that he died from natural causes, with coronary-artery blockage caused by atherosclerotic plaque. Medical evidence from a Department of Health pathology consultant described severe coronary atherosclerosis; almost all the coronary vessels were blocked by between about 80 per cent and 100 per cent.
The recommendations included stronger training for frontline staff, regular reviews and updates of safety guidance, and sampling bus CCTV footage to check that drivers inspect vehicles after service. The jury foreperson warned that a similar failure could have serious consequences if an intoxicated passenger, a person with dementia or an abandoned baby were left on an upper deck.
The coroner ordered the company to respond to the recommendations in writing within three months and report on progress in putting them into effect.