Pal who skipped trip where 4 boys died in crash feels like ‘he’s lost a member of his family’ and ‘won’t get over it’
A FIFTH teen who skipped the camping trip where his pals died in a horror crash says he’ll never get over the tragedy.
Schoolboys Jevon Hirst and Harvey Owen, both 16, Wilf Fitchett, 17, and Hugo Morris, 18, were found dead in an upside-down car after they vanished on a trip to Snowdonia, North Wales at the weekend.
But another teen who was good pals with Hugo was set to be in that car too – but pulled out at the last minute.
The dad of the boy, 19, has heartbreakingly revealed his son is still “in shock” over losing his mate.
He said his boy and Hugo had been mates since primary school, and were working together as baristas at a popular coffee shop before the tragedy struck.
The dad told The Sun: “My son is still in shock.
“We all knew Hugo and we feel we have lost a member of our family.”
He said it would take “a long time” for the teen to come to terms with the loss.
The heartbroken mum of one of the other teens – Harvey – has this evening paid tribute to him.
She said: “I know it sounds like a cliche, but Harvey was a unique and special person who touched so many people along the way.
“Laid back, charismatic, cheeky, a boy not of his time, he always thought outside the box, he was creative and funny.
“The fact that Harvey will always be 17 is unbearable to think of and even harder to accept.
“I’ve lost my boy, the boy I absolutely adored, and I can’t accept that I won’t be able to hold him again or tell him I love him again.”
It comes just hours after the four teens’ final moments were revealed.
CCTV showed the boys driving through Harlech, North Wales at around 11:30am on Sunday.
Just minutes later the teens were killed when their silver hatchback veered off a wet and windy country lane in the village of Garreg – just eight miles away.
Witnesses say that Jevon, Harvey, Wilf and Hugo had been “laughing and joking” moments before the tragic crash.
‘TRAPPED’ FOR 48 HOURS
On Tuesday a frantic hunt was launched for the lads and their silver Ford Fiesta after they failed to return home.
Cops then tragically found the car partially submerged in water and on its roof while searching in the Porthmadog area – and it was confirmed four bodies were found.
Police fear the horrific accident took place not long after the boys left one of their grandad’s homes – just eight miles away – on Saturday night.
It wasn’t until 3.10pm on Monday – more than 24 hours later – that cops were told the boys were missing.
Tragically, on Tuesday a passerby spotted the car and the bodies were found – meaning they may have been trapped upside down in the vehicle for 48 hours.
The boys’ deaths have rocked their small community – which was already struggling to come to grips with a double tragedy.
The boys all studied at a Shropshire school that had already been mourning the loss of two other pupils.
‘IMPACTING EVERYONE’
Alfie McCormick, 18, and Ben Worrall, 17, died days apart just weeks ago, and a local priest said the school community was still grieving.
The Reverend Charlotte Gompertz, vicar of a Shrewsbury church, said: “It is a huge sixth form college where all people go round here.
“They have had some tragedies over the last couple of months and this will be devastating for them.
“There were two deaths very recently, a motorbike accident and a suicide.”
She said it was heartbreaking as the deaths were “impacting everyone”.
The priest continued: “This is a close-knit community and many of the young people have been at school together since they were four years old.
“It’s one of those places where everybody knows everybody.”