Four teenagers killed in a car crash in North Wales died by drowning, an inquest has heard.
The bodies of Wilf Fitchett, Jevon Hirst, Harvey Owen and Hugo Morris, were tragically discovered in an overturned car in a ditch near the village of Gwynedd in North Wales on Tuesday, 21 November.
It followed a major search operation for the four, all from Shrewsbury, who were last seen heading on a camping trip to Snowdonia on Sunday, 19 November.
This morning, an inquest was opened into their deaths in Caernarfon, which heard the post mortem examinations showed the provisional cause of death for all four teenagers was drowning.
None of the teenagers’ families were at the brief four-minute hearing.
Kate Robertson, senior coroner for north west Wales said: “The 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.
“Post-mortem examinations have been undertaken and the provisional causes of death provided, pending inquests.”
Ms Robertson added: “I offer the families of Wilf, Jevon, Hugo and Harvey my sincerest condolences. These inquests will be adjourned pending completion of those further investigations.”
Last week, Superintendent Owain Llewellyn, from North Wales Police, said the crash appeared to be a “tragic accident” – but the force did still not know how the car left the A4085 before ending up in the water-filled ditch below.
An appeal was issued last week for dashcam footage from anyone travelling on the A4085 between Penrhyndeudraeth and Beddgelert in either direction between 11am on November 19 and 10am on November 21.
The overturned Ford Fiesta was discovered by a passing binman two days after the teenagers went missing. A local farmer said the teenagers were “unlucky” the car didn’t 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, while on Saturday a minute’s applause was held ahead of Shrewsbury Town’s match with Port Vale.
In the immediate days following the discovery of the teenagers’ 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.
Harvey’s mother Crystal, who runs a cupcake shop in the town, paid an emotional tribute to her son. She described her son as a “unique” and “special” teenager who touched “so many people” throughout his life.
Wilf’s girlfriend, Maddi Corfield, posted a tribute online, writing: “I love you so much, I’m going to miss you forever. The sweetest and most loving boy I’ve ever known. I hope you know how much I love you, gorgeous.”
No date has been set for the full inquest hearing.
