An inquest heard that four teenagers, Wilf Fitchett (17), Jevon Hirst (16), Harvey Owen (17), and Hugo Morris (18), were discovered in an overturned vehicle partially submerged in Gwynedd, North Wales on November 21.
Both Wilf and Harvey had recently turned 17 before the tragic accident. Originating from the Shrewsbury area, the teens were on a camping trip when they didn’t return home, prompting a search.
Post-mortem examinations conducted on all four teenagers indicated drowning as the preliminary cause of death, as disclosed during the commencement of the inquest by Kate Robertson, the senior coroner for north-west Wales, at Caernarfon, Gwynedd who said: “All four were travelling in a motor vehicle along the A4085 when the vehicle left the road, leading to their deaths.”
During the hearing, Ms. Robertson mentioned that the police investigation remained “ongoing.”
She emphasised that a comprehensive inquest would occur only upon the investigation’s conclusion, saying: “Only when it’s complete will a full inquest take place,”
“At this time, speculation is unhelpful and compassion will achieve more than media curiosity.”
The coroner extended her “sincerest” sympathies to the families of the four boys, who were absent during the hearing.
North Wales Police had previously verified that the boys’ bodies were discovered in an upside-down silver Ford Fiesta, partly immersed in water.
The vehicle was reported to have veered off the A4085 in Garreg, near Tremadog in Gwynedd, approximately 75 miles (120km) away from Shrewsbury.
Superintendent Owain Llewellyn expressed that the incident seemed to have been “a tragic accident.”
