Family of teen killed in Snowdonia crash pay tribute to ‘most precious soul’
Harvey Owen The mother of one of the teenagers killed in the Snowdonia car crash[1] has said "the fact Harvey will always be 17 is unbearable to think of" in her first public tribute to her son. Harvey Owen was found dead alongside his three friends Wilf Fitchett, Hugo Morris and Jevon Hirst, all from Shrewsbury, near Garreg, North Wales, on Tuesday[2].
In a statement shared by North Wales Police, his mother Crystal said: "Laid back, charismatic, cheeky, a boy not of his time, he always thought outside the box, he was creative and funny. "A boy that preferred to be outside and active. He was the most gentle soul, always feeling empathy for people and seeing the good in everyone."
(Clockwise from top left) Wilf Fitchett, Jevon Hirst, Hugo Morris and Harvey Owen lost their lives in North Wales The close-knit group had been planning a camping trip[3] in Snowdonia National Park last weekend, and were due to return home on Monday morning. They were last seen at midday on Sunday and are thought to have been travelling north on the A4085 near the village of Garreg when they crashed.
Their silver Ford Fiesta was discovered "upside down and partially submerged" on Tuesday after a widespread search[4]. Ms Owen said: "The fact that Harvey will always be 17 is unbearable to think of and even harder to accept. Please hold your loved ones tight, all the minor things we worry about are irrelevant, life is so short and can be so cruel.
"I've lost my boy, the boy I absolutely adored, and I can't accept that I won't be able to hold him again or tell him I love him again." Flowers were placed at the site of the crash on Thursday, with one bouquet held down with a small stone in the ditch where the boys' car was found. Mrs Owen described her son as "perfect when he came into the world and he will go out that way," and added that "he was and will forever be a son we can be proud of".
"There is never a time to lose a child, but this feels so much more gut-wrenching as he was literally thriving in life and had everything to live for," she said. Speaking about Harvey's relationship with his family, she said: "From the moment Harvey was born, he was special, a truly longed for baby who made me feel so complete and a much-wanted sibling for Yasmin. Story continues
"The bond between them was something every parent would dream of. He idolised his big sister and spent his whole life looking up to her and copying everything she ever did, down to his quirky, sometimes questionable fashion sense and even his feminist views. "Harvey grew up to be family-orientated.
He had two younger sisters, Sophia and Olivia, who he absolutely adored and who idolised him, their big brother. He was never too old for a hug." Dough and Oil, where Harvey had been working for two years, also closed on Wednesday following his death.
His mother spoke about his recently developed "passion for working with bread" and said that he "dreamed of one day having his own bread shop and cafe[5]". "Quirky, a trendsetter, loving, pure and hilarious, he was so dopey at times it was annoying but he was so loveable it was hard to stay mad at him for long," she said. Investigations into what happened to the four friends in Snowdonia are ongoing.
Police investigating their deaths have appealed for dashcam footage[6] from the 48 hours before they were found. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism.
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References
- ^ the Snowdonia car crash (www.telegraph.co.uk)
- ^ on Tuesday (www.telegraph.co.uk)
- ^ a camping trip (www.telegraph.co.uk)
- ^ a widespread search (www.telegraph.co.uk)
- ^ having his own bread shop and cafe (www.telegraph.co.uk)
- ^ have appealed for dashcam footage (www.telegraph.co.uk)
- ^ Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism.
Try The Telegraph free for 1 month, then enjoy 1 year for just £9 with our US-exclusive offer.
(secure.telegraph.co.uk)