Snowdonia latest: Bodies of four missing teenagers found in crashed car
(Clockwise from top left) Jevon Hirst, Wilf Henderson, Harvey Owen and Hugo Morris had been missing since Sunday morning The bodies of four missing teenagers have been recovered from a crashed car in Snowdonia. A massive hunt was launched for Jevon Hirst, Harvey Owen, Wilf Henderson and Hugo Morris after they failed to return from a camping trip on Sunday.
North Wales Police said their bodies were recovered from a silver Ford Fiesta, which appears to have left the road 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. “This has been an extensive search involving a number of different agencies and volunteers, and this is sadly not the outcome that any of us would have wanted.
“We would ask that the families be afforded the appropriate privacy and respect.” The force said enquiries were ongoing to establish the circumstances that led to the car leaving the road.
05:26 PM GMT
Truck arrives to remove car
A truck has arrived approximately three quarters of a mile from the crash scene, in order to winch the car from the river.
A vehicle carrying heavy lifting gear arrives at Garreg Ilanfrothen on the A4085
05:03 PM GMT
Statement in full
North Wales Police statement in full: It is believed that [the group] travelled to Harlech on Saturday 18th with plans to camp in the Eyri area on Sunday.
A large search was undertaken overnight and that continued into this morning shortly after 10am a member of the public contacted us reporting a vehicle having left the road. Police officers attended and located a ford fiesta vehicle upside down partially submerged in water. Tragically the bodies of four young males were recovered from within the vehicle the families of the missing men have been informed our thoughts are with them at this desperate time.
While the search has concluded there is an ongoing inquiry to formally identify those in the vehicle and to understand what has led to this tragic incident. I would like to take this opportunity to publicly thank members of the emergency services, volunteers from the search agencies and members of the public who have supported us with this search. Story continues
04:54 PM GMT
Car found overturned and partially submerged
Supt Owain Llewelyn, from North Wales Police, said that officers found the Ford Fiesta overturned and partially submerged in water.
He added that the bodies of four young men were recovered from within the vehicle, and added that their families had been informed.
04:26 PM GMT
Community in ‘complete shock’
The community in the area where the teenagers went missing are in “complete shock”, a local councillor has said. “It’s been a tremendous few hours really… the thoughts of the whole valley are with the families of these young lads,” said Councillor June Jones, who represents the Llanfrothen area on Gwynedd’s council.
04:01 PM GMT
North Wales Police to make statement
North Wales Police will make a statement to the media about the four missing teenagers at 4.30pm at its headquarters in St Asaph. No questions will be taken.
03:22 PM GMT
Pictured: Vehicle transporter arrives at scene
A vehicle transporter van arrives at the road block – Rob Formstone
03:18 PM GMT
Teenagers’ former school issues statement
Meole Brace School in Shrewsbury, where all four teenagers attended, said they were all “well known” by the school community.
“Jev, Harvey and Wilf left us last year at the end of Year 11, and Hugo the year before. All four boys were well-thought [of] and well-known by the school community,” its head teacher Alan Doust said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with them and their families for their safe return.”
02:51 PM GMT
Pictured: Mountain rescue at scene
Mountain rescue vehicles are seen crossing the police road block in Garreg – Rob Formstone
The road block is located less than a mile from where the teenagers’ car was located – Rob Formstone
02:17 PM GMT
Forensics van spotted near scene
A forensics van has been seen on the road near where the car was discovered, according to the BBC.
No further information has been made available by the police at this stage.
01:42 PM GMT
Where is the search taking place?
01:36 PM GMT
Disappearance ‘very worrying’, says MP
Liz Saville Roberts, the Plaid Cymru MP for Dwyfor Meirionnydd, said the situation was “very worrying”. “My immediate thoughts are with their family and friends who will be extremely concerned about their welfare,” she wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
01:36 PM GMT
School issues statement
Shrewsbury College has issued a statement following the disappearance of the four boys. The school told The Telegraph: “We, at the college, like everyone else hope that the teenagers are found safe and well soon.
It must be a very worrying time for the family and friends of the teenagers.”
01:26 PM GMT
Pictured: Police cordon near Garreg
A police cordon has been set up near the village of Garreg in North Wales – @bbcmtd
The cordon is located on the A4085, near Porthmadog – @BBCWalesNews
01:21 PM GMT
When did the teenagers go missing?
12:55 PM GMT
Ambulance service called to reports of an incident
The Welsh Ambulance Service says it was called to reports of an incident near the A4085 between Nantmor and Tan-Lan in Gwynedd at about 10.08am “We sent an operations manager, two emergency ambulances and two Cymru High Acuity Response Units to the scene where we were supported by the Emergency Medical Retrieval and Transfer Service in two Wales Air Ambulance charity helicopters,” it said.
12:50 PM GMT
Mother of missing teenager says she is ‘frantically worried’
Crystal Owen, the mother of Harvey, told the BBC she was currently making her way to north Wales to be closer to the search operation. She said she believes the last time the group used their phones was about midday on Sunday in Porthmadog, and said her son had not logged onto his WhatsApp, which she said was unusual.
“I am frantically worried, we haven’t slept a wink, we are desperate to chase any lead we can,” she said. “If I’d have known [where he was going] I wouldn’t have let him due to the winter weather conditions. “They are all sensitive, intelligent lads and we are just hoping they parked up, got lost and are OK.”
12:37 PM GMT
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References
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