Mum's heartache and girlfriend's final message as tributes paid to four teens

21 November 2023 , 21:35

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From 'one in a million' to the "sweetest and most loving boy", tributes have poured in for the four friends who died in a camping trip tragedy.

Jevon Hirst, Wilf Fitchett, Harvey Owen and Hugo Morris were discovered in the overturned Ford Fiesta they were travelling in in Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park in Wales. The four, who were students at Shrewsbury College in Shropshire, were reported missing on Sunday morning before police confirmed the tragic news on Tuesday afternoon.

Loved ones have now been sharing their grief-stricken words for the four, who were aged between 16 and 18 and were studying for their A levels at the time. Wilf Fitchett was described as "one in a million" by a friend who said "can't believe you're gone".

Jevon Hirst, 16, was dubbed a "lovely boy", while Wilf's girlfriend Maddi shared a heartbreaking tribute saying, "I'll miss you forever".

'A nightmare I can't wake up from'

Harvey’s mum Crystal Owen, who travelled to North Wales to help with the search, spoke for the first time about the tragedy today. In a heartbreaking post on her business Facebook 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." She had previously 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.

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'Hope you know how much I love you'

The teen described the 18-year-old as the "sweetest and most loving boy I've ever known," writing in an Instagram post: "I love you so much baby," adding: "I'm going to miss you forever."

"I hope you know how much I love you gorgeous," she wrote. Maddi's mother Lisa Corfield described him as a "lovely" and respectful young man, saying she was "absolutely heartbroken" for her daughter and "all the boys' family".

"Wilf was such a lovely kind lad and treated Maddi in a way only a mother could hope her daughter b treated," said Ms Corfield. "We will all miss u dearly Wilf. thank u 4 bringing so much love and happiness in2 Maddi's life and I promise to look after her 4 u [sic]".

Mum's heartache and girlfriend's final message as tributes paid to four teens

Wilf's girlfriend paid tribute (WALES NEWS SERVICE)

He was described as a 'lovely and kind boy' (WALES NEWS SERVICE)

'A lovely and funny young lad'

Beth Head, a friend of Hugo Morris, 18, described him as "a lovely and funny young lad" saying he would be missed deeply. "I will forever cherish all the memories and laughs we had a work together [sic], my thoughts go to his family at this time," she said.

The teens have been recovered from the car after it was discovered on Tuesday morning near the village of Garreg. North Wales Police said inquiries into why the car left the road were under way.

Hugo Morris (North Wales Police)

Harvey Owen (WALES NEWS SERVICE)

'A tragic accident'

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."

'Truly heartbreaking'

Dwyfor Meirionnydd MP Liz Saville Roberts and Senedd Member Mabon ap Gwynfor both issued a joint statement following the tragic discovery, which they described as "truly heartbreaking". They said: "Foremost as parents, our thoughts go out to the families and friends of the four young men whose lives have been tragically lost in this dreadful incident.

Harvey Owen's mum Crystal said she was 'frantic with worry' earlier on Tuesday (WALES NEWS SERVICE)

Jevon Hirst (WALES NEWS SERVICE)

"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."

'Community in complete shock'

Local councillor June Jones echoed the politicians' grief as she paid her respects. She told Sky News she had been desperately hoping for news the four boys had gotten lost without any phone signal in the wilderness.

She said the whole area was "in complete shock" with everybody's feelings "very much with the families at this time". "It has been extremely wet and the rivers have been extremely high over the last few days," Cllr Jones said. "Obviously, it is November, the weather is bad. It is bad weather to be travelling in, especially with somebody who doesn't know the roads very well."