Mum of teen found dead with three friends ‘didn’t know he was going on camping trip’

The mum of a teenage boy whose body was found after the car he was travelling in crashed said she did not know he was on a camping trip. Harvey Owen, 17, was one of four friends aged 16 to 18 who died after their Ford Fiesta toppled onto its roof and became partially submerged in water while driving in North Wales. Crystal Owen, Harvey's mother, said she did not know the teenagers were going on a camping trip and thought they were going to stay at a friend's grandfather's house.

A massive hunt was launched for Harvey, Jevon Hirst, 16, Harvey Owen, 17, Hugo Morris, 18, and Wilf Henderson after they failed to return home to Shrewsbury, Shropshire, on Sunday. Crystal said if she had known they were going camping she would have stopped them due to the wintery weather[1] meaning the area would have been treacherous. Click here[2] to follow our live blog on the tragedy

Every word police said in major update over tragic death of four missing teenagers[3]Wilf Henderson (North Wales Police)Hugo Morris (North Wales Police)

"I am frantically worried, we haven't slept a wink, we are desperate to chase any lead we can," Crystal told the BBC[4] prior to the discovery of the car and bodies. "If I'd have known (where he was going) I wouldn't have let him due to the winter weather[5] conditions.

They are all sensitive, intelligent lads and we are just hoping they parked up, got lost and are OK." North Wales Police[6] said their bodies were recovered from the silver car which appears to have left the road[7] on the A4085 at Garreg, near Tremadog. Superintendent Owain Llewelyn said: "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."

He later told reporters out police HQ in St Asaph: "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."

Jevon Hirst (North Wales Police)

The force said inquiries 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.

The boys were all A-level students at the Shrewsbury Colleges Group, which said its "immediate thoughts are with the family and friends of the teenagers". Local MP Liz Saville Roberts and local Senedd member Mabon ap Gwynfor said in a joint statement: "This news is truly heartbreaking and foremost as parents ourselves our thoughts go out to the families and friends of the four young men whose lives have been lost in this tragic accident.

Map shows where the car and bodies were recovered (Press Association Images)

"We would like to pay tribute to the emergency services and local mountain rescue teams involved in the search operation and to members of the public for their assistance in helping to locate the vehicle. No words can sufficiently reflect the sorrow that this news brings to our whole community."

The four friends were all A-level students at the Shrewsbury Colleges Group, which said its "immediate thoughts are with the family and friends of the teenagers".

Snowdonia search: Everything we know about hunt for missing boys as car is found[8]

References

1. ^ weather (www.mirror.co.uk)
2. ^ Click here (www.mirror.co.uk)
3. ^ Every word police said in major update over tragic death of four missing teenagers (www.mirror.co.uk)
4. ^ BBC (www.mirror.co.uk)
5. ^ weather (www.mirror.co.uk)
6. ^ North Wales Police (www.mirror.co.uk)
7. ^ silver car which appears to have left the road (www.mirror.co.uk)
8. ^ Snowdonia search: Everything we know about hunt for missing boys as car is found (www.mirror.co.uk)