‘I’m in a nightmare’ Mother pays tribute after four teenagers killed in car crash
The mother of one of four teenage boys killed in a car crash has said she is “in a nightmare”. Tributes have poured in after Wilf Henderson, Jevon Hirst, Harvey Owen and Hugo Morris, from Shrewsbury, were found in an overturned Ford Fiesta in Gwynedd after going missing on a camping trip[1] on Sunday. A huge search was launched for the A-Level students, all aged 16 to 18, after they failed to return home from an overnight break to the Snowdonia area.
North Wales Police said the bodies were found inside the partially submerged car, which left the A4085 at Garreg, near Tremadog on Tuesday. Harvey’s mother, Crystal Owen posted on her shop’s Facebook page: “I feel like I’m in a nightmare I wish I could wake up from but I’m not.
Police had launched a huge search for Jevon Hirst, Harvey Owen, Wilf Henderson and Hugo Morris after they went missing on Sunday morning (Photo: Police Gwynedd/ : PA Video)
“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.” She had previously said didn’t know the teenagers were going on a camping trip and thought they were going to stay at a friend’s grandfather’s house.
In another online tribute, Wilf’s girlfriend Maddi Corfields said she “can’t imagine my world without you” and said “I’m going to miss you forever.” “The sweetest and most loving boy I’ve ever known. I hope you know how much I love you, gorgeous,” she wrote.
“Thank you for all the time you’ve spent with me… thank you for loving me endlessly. I promise I’ll do the same for you, my sweet, sweet angel. “I can’t imagine my world without you.
I’m missing you so much already, but I am going to enjoy life the way you would’ve wanted, the way that you made me feel. Her mother, Lisa Corfield, 37, said on Facebook: “I am absolutely heartbroken for Maddi and all of the families involved. “Wilf was such a lovely, kind lad and treated Maddi in a way only a mother could hope her daughter be treated.”
Shrewsbury Colleges Group, where the boys were A-level students, offered “deepest condolences to the family and friends” of the teenagers and said it had put in place a range of support measures to help those affected.
It is believed that the four teenagers had gone camping in the Eryri area, also known as Snowdonia (Image: i graphic)
Earlier, the teenagers’ worried parents had reposted a police appeal for information on social media. One wrote: “Please keep sharing … if anyone knows anything or can think of anything that may help find the boys please contact the police. We are desperate for any news.”
Another said: “I am frantic with worry, one of these boys is my son Harvey, please please please share and tag anyone in Wales or get in touch with any information you may have.” First Minister of Wales Mark Drakeford said it was “devastating news” to hear of the boys’ deaths. “My thoughts are with their family and friends during this incredibly difficult time as they deal with the unimaginable,” he added in a post on social media site X, formerly known as Twitter.
North Wales Police said the car crash “appears to have been a tragic accident”.
Supt Owain Llewellyn said it was thought the group travelled to Harlech on Saturday with plans to camp in Eryri – also called Snowdonia – on Sunday.
The force said the teens’ families had been informed, adding that inquiries were ongoing to understand what led to the deaths.