When four young men set out on a camping trip in Snowdonia, North Wales, all they expected was to have a few laughs with good friends. However, it turned out differently.Jevon Hirst, Harvey Owen, Wilf Henderson, and Hugo Morris set out on a camping trip this past weekend, but it quickly turned into something that none of the young men ever wanted to happen.
Yesterday, police, who have been involved since Sunday, made a discovery that would forever change the lives of those around the young men. It has left their families distraught.
On Sunday morning, the boys spoke to their families and bid farewells as they continued on their camping trip. However, their families knew something had gone wrong when they didn’t hear from the boys for a while.
What Happened on the Camping Trip?
The boys were reported missing after nobody had heard from them for hours. Their families began to worry about their well-being, and the police soon got involved.A massive search effort ensued, consisting of helicopters, the Coast Guard, and mountain rescue teams. Forty-eight hours after the boys were reported missing, authorities finally found them. However, all was not well.
North Wales police confirmed yesterday that they had found an overturned car slightly submerged in water. Inside the car lay the bodies of the four boys, all sadly deceased. A member of the force shared:
“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.”
The vehicle the boys were traveling in seems to have ridden off the road in a village called Gareg. All four of the boys seem to have been trapped inside the car for the 48 hours it took to find it.
What Did Their Families Say?
Owen’s mother, Crystal, shared a lengthy Facebook post in which she talked about losing her son. She began the post by stating:
“I feel like I’m in a nightmare I wish I could wake up from, but I’m not.”
She went on to say that while she appreciated the kindness of all those people sending her messages of love and support, no amount of messages was going to help her overcome the death of her son.
Owen’s mom added that she would need to close down her business for the time being as she didn’t believe she could do anything work-related, knowing she would never see her son again.
When Owen’s mother learned that search and rescue efforts had ensued, she drove to Snowdonia to assist authorities in their search for the boys. She was unaware that her son was camping that weekend because she would never have let him go in the winter weather.She believed he stayed at a friend’s house for the night. However, others knew about the boys’ trip and what they planned to do while they were away for a night.
Henderson’s girlfriend’s mother, Lisa Corfield, talked about the boys’ camping trip before the car was found. She shared:
“They are not experienced campers. They have never been there before. [They] were just going for the night, so have a tent and sleeping bags but only the basics.”
Corfield also shared a photo of Henderson and her daughter on Facebook, saying how heartbroken she was for everyone who had lost someone in the tragic accident. She went on to talk about Henderson.
Corfield called Henderson a “lovely kind young lad” and said he had treated her daughter as any mother hoped their daughter would be treated. She then talked about how heartbroken her daughter was and said they would all miss him very much.
She ended the post by thanking the young man for bringing love and happiness into her daughter’s life and being there for her. She also promised Henderson she would look after her from here on.
Each boy has received some tribute, whether from a friend, family member, or acquaintance. Many people have also sent their thoughts and prayers to the families of the departed, hoping they find strength in these difficult times.