Friend of teen killed in camping crash ‘pulled out of trip at last minute’

A fifth boy was due to go on a camping trip that ended in tragedy, it has been reported. Harvey Owen, 17, Jevon Hirst, 16, Hugo Morris, 18, and Wilf Fitchett, 17,were found dead in a partially submerged car on Tuesday, November 21. The teens, from Shrewsbury, had failed to return home from an overnight camping trip to the Snowdonia area in Wales sparking a huge search.

A binman discovered a submerged Ford Fiesta and sadly, the bodies of the A Level students were found within it. And a fifth boy, who was a close friend of Hugo, had originally been set to travel with the group before changing his mind at the last minute, The Mirror reports.[1] Mimi Ropotka, who worked with Hugo at Pret A Manger cafe, said: “He can’t believe he has lost his friend so suddenly and tragically.” She added that he was in a: “really bad way”.

Local police said enquiries were ongoing to establish the circumstances that led to the car leaving the road.

It’s understood the group were not experienced campers and had only travelled with basic equipment. Harvey’s mum, Crystal Owen, said she did not know the boys were going camping and would have warned them not to due to the weather. She had travelled to North Wales to help with the search.

(Top L-R) Jevon Hirst, Harvey Owen (bottom L-R) Wilf Henderson and Hugo Morris(Top L-R) Jevon Hirst, Harvey Owen (bottom L-R) Wilf Henderson and Hugo Morris

In a post on her business Facebook page, she wrote: “I feel like I’m in a nightmare I wish I could wake up from but I’m not.

I just wanted to say I do appreciate people’s kindness but no amount of messages is going to help me overcome this. Nothing will make this nightmare go away.” One of the teenager’s girlfriends wrote on social media: “I love you so much baby.

I’m going to miss you forever.” She went on to say that her boyfriend was the “sweetest and most loving boy I’ve ever known”, adding: “I hope you know how much I love you gorgeous.” Superintendent Owain Llewellyn said: “Police officers attended and located a Ford Fiesta vehicle on its roof, partially submerged in water. Tragically, the bodies of four young males were recovered from within the vehicle.

“The families of the missing boys have been informed.

At present, this appears to have been a tragic accident, and our thoughts are with the family and friends of the four young men at this very difficult time.”

References

  1. ^ The Mirror reports. (www.mirror.co.uk)
  2. ^