Four teenagers killed on Snowdonia camping trip drowned after car overturned, inquest hears
Bodies of Wilf Fitchett, Jevon Hirst, Harvey Owen and Hugo Morris found two days after they went missing
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Four teenagers killed in a crash while on a camping trip in North Wales died by drowning, an inquest has heard.
The bodies of Wilf Fitchett, Jevon Hirst, Harvey Owen and Hugo Morris were discovered in an overturned car in a ditch near the village of Gwynedd in North Wales on 21 November.
It followed a major search operation for the four boys, all from Shrewsbury, who were last seen heading on a camping trip to Snowdonia on 19 November.
At an inquest opening in Caernarfon on Wednesday, Kate Robertson, HM Coroner for North West Wales, stated the provisional cause of their deaths was drowning.
None of the teenagersā families were at the brief four-minute hearing.
Ms Robertson said: āThe four young men were travelling in a vehicle along the A4085 at Llanfrothen when the vehicle has left the road. The circumstances of which resulted in the deaths of all four occupants.
āPost-mortem examinations have been undertaken and the provisional causes of death provided, pending inquests.ā
She added: āI offer the families of Wilf, Jevon, Hugo and Harvey my sincerest condolences. These inquests will be adjourned pending completion of those further investigations.ā
Last week, Superintendent Owain Llewellyn, from North Wales Police, said the crash appeared to be a ātragic accidentā - but that the force did not know how the car left the windy A4085.
A police appeal was issued last week for dashcam footage from anyone travelling on the A4085 between Penrhyndeudraeth and Beddgelert in either direction between 11am on 19 November and 10am on 21 November.
The overturned Ford Fiesta was discovered by a passing binman two days after the teenagers went missing. A local farmer said the teenagers were āunluckyā the car didnāt avoid the flooded ditch by hitting a tree or fence as it careered from the road.
The death of the teenagers - one aged 16, two aged 17 and one aged 18 - has rocked their home town.
On Sunday, around 400 people attended a vigil in their memory at the town square of Shrewsbury after a minuteās applause was held ahead of Shrewsbury Townās match with Port Vale on Saturday.
In the immediate days following the discovery of the teenagersā bodies, floral tributes were laid outside Shrewsbury College, where they were all studying for their A-Levels, and remembrance candles were lit inside Shrewsbury Abbey.
Harveyās mother Crystal, who runs a cupcake shop in the town, paid an emotional tribute to her son. She described her son as a āuniqueā and āspecialā teenager who touched āso many peopleā throughout his life.
Wilfās girlfriend, Maddi Corfield, posted a tribute online, writing: āI love you so much, Iām going to miss you forever. The sweetest and most loving boy Iāve ever known. I hope you know how much I love you, gorgeous.ā
No date has been set for the full inquest hearing.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments