Grandfather 'very sorry' for accidentally picking up wrong child from school

Joseph Fuller took the child he thought was his grandson home before he realised his mistake

Joseph Fuller accidentally picked up the wrong child from school (Wis-tv)

A 65-year-old grandfather from South Carolina picked up the wrong boy from school in a case of mistaken identity.

Joseph Fuller went to Edisto Primary School, Orangeburg County, to pick up his grandson early but came home with the wrong child.

When Mr Fuller arrived, he spotted a child who he thought was his grandson and hugged him before telling him he was there to pick him up early.

Mr Fuller asked the boy if he was ready to go and the boy said “yes”. When asked by a teaching assistant if the man was his grandfather, the student replied, “yes”, according to KPLC 7 News.

The boy and the man were then signed out by the school’s front office. KPLC 7 reported the grandfather was on the approved list of people who can pick up students.

When the couple returned home the grandmother realised the boy was not the couple's grandson.

They immediately returned the child to school and the boy’s mother was informed.

"He had a tooth missing in the front, and I know my grandson did not have a tooth missing in the front. Immediately, I brought him back to school, and I am very sorry," Mr Fuller told KPLC 7.

According to a report seen by KPLC 7, the mother was concerned but relieved the situation was handled and corrected.

The boy’s father, Darrin Pressley, reportedly blamed the school.

"If they didn't bring him back my son could've been gone," he told KPLC 7. "It's gross negligence on the school's part. My thing is, you know, have a prevention so this could never happen again."

After the incident the district revised the procedures for when a student is checked out of school. Now, students must verbally identify the person who is picking them up and the front desk will double check the student’s pick-up list for that name.