Snowdonia crash: Teen who pulled out of camping trip that killed 4 pals ‘still in shock’
A fifth teenager who pulled out of a doomed camping trip that left four of his friends dead[1] has been left ‘in shock’, it has emerged. Jevon Hirst, 16, Harvey Owen, 17, Wilf Fitchett, 17, and Hugo Morris, 18, were discovered in the car following the tragic accident this week as they travelled to Snowdonia. Police said their silver Ford Fiesta dived off a road on a tight bend[2] and overturned in a flooded ditch.
The boys, who were students at Shrewsbury College in Shropshire and travelled up to North Wales last weekend, were reported missing on Sunday morning before police confirmed their bodies had been found on Tuesday afternoon.
The dad of the fifth teen said they knew Hugo and ‘feel we have lost a member of our family’ (North Wales Police)
Wilf Fitchett died after going missing in Snowdonia while travelling in a Silver Ford Fiesta (North Wales Police)
Now, the father of the fifth boy who was supposed to have been at the camping trip has spoken of how the incident has impacted his son – and what he has gone through since he learnt of their deaths. He told the Sun: “My son is still in shock. We all knew Hugo and we feel we have lost a member of our family.” The dad added that he expected it would take a “long time” before his son got over his loss.
Harvey Owen’s mum Crystal had told the BBC that she did not know her 17-year-old son had been camping (North Wales Police)
Fellow pupils meanwhile left emotional messages in tribute to the four boys this week, both online and at the steps of the college.
Beth Head, a friend of Hugo Morris described him as “a lovely and funny young lad” saying he would be missed deeply, and wrote: “I will forever cherish all the memories and laughs we had a work together [sic], my thoughts go to his family at this time”. A friend of Wilf Fitchett’s said on Tuesday: “You were one in a million mate. Can’t believe you’re gone x”.
A family friend of Jevon meanwhile described him as a “lovely boy”.
A family friend of Jevon Hirst described him as a ‘lovely boy’ (North Wales Police)
Parents of the four teens had told of being frantic with worry after the boys disappeared on Sunday. Speaking before they were found, Harvey’s mum Crystal Owen said to the BBC[3] that she did not know her 17-year-old son had been camping, and that he had told her he was going to stay at a friend’s grandparent’s house at the time. 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
- ^ camping trip that left four of his friends dead (www.mirror.co.uk)
- ^ their silver Ford Fiesta dived off a road on a tight bend (www.mirror.co.uk)
- ^ BBC (www.mirror.co.uk)