The grieving mother of Harvey Owen has shared her utter devastation following the tragic loss of her 17-year-old son, who died in a horrific car accident in North Wales. Harvey was on his first holiday without family supervision, a trip his mother believed was a well-organised camping expedition with experienced guides in Snowdonia.
In a heart-wrenching social media post, his mum, Crystal Owen, laid bare the painful truth: the teenagers had secretly planned the trip to the Eryri (Snowdonia) national park themselves. The group had told their parents they were staying in a highly-rated "safe and secure" youth hostel, a fabrication that has since compounded the family's unimaginable grief.
A Discovery of Unimaginable Grief
The four friends—Harvey Owen, Jevon Hirst, Hugo Morris, and Wilf Henderson—all from the Shropshire area, were reported missing last Sunday after failing to return home. Their families' worst fears were realised on Tuesday when their silver Ford Fiesta was discovered, upturned and partially submerged in a ditch off the A4085 near Garreg, North Wales.
The vehicle was found by a passing motorist, who immediately alerted the authorities. The devastating discovery ended a desperate 48-hour search and confirmed the tragic fate of the four young men.
A Mother's Agonising Tribute
In her powerful and emotional tribute, Crystal Owen directed her words directly to her son. "I feel so privileged to be your mum, I cannot begin to explain the pain," she wrote. She described Harvey as a "unique, quirky, witty and beautiful soul" whose bright future was brutally stolen.
She heartbreakingly revealed that she would never have allowed the trip had she known the boys were planning to sleep in a car and camp in the harsh November conditions. "I thought you were going to be safe," she lamented, a sentiment echoing the anguish of every parent involved.
Community in Mourning
The tragedy has sent shockwaves through the community of Shrewsbury, where the boys attended Shrewsbury Colleges Group. The college has confirmed it is providing specialist support to students and staff affected by the profound loss of four promising young lives.
An investigation into the exact circumstances of the single-vehicle collision is ongoing, conducted by North Wales Police's Serious Collision Unit. The community now unites in grief, remembering four friends whose lives were cut devastatingly short.
