'Devastated' community share outpouring of support after 'tragic' death of four teenagers
Tributes are being paid to four teenagers from Shrewsbury, who died in a car crash while on a camping trip in north Wales.
Members of the local community in Shrewsbury have been coming together to light candles and show their support for the families.
The bodies of Wilf Fitchett, Jevon Hirst, Harvey Owen and Hugo Morris, were recovered from a car in Snowdonia on Tuesday 21 November.
Oxon Parish Church in Bicton Heath has opened its doors for residents to pay tribute as well as offering a quiet space for the tight-knit community to grieve.
Rev Charlotte Gompertz said: "It's just tragic, these boys that have got everything ahead of them, everything going for them. Just the tragic loss of life.
"Devastation. Every moment the church door has been open, someone has come in crying, or just wanting to be quiet and still."
She adds: "The nature of this community is that even though it's not a village, it's still size enough that everybody knows everybody.
"And that's just what makes this feel so painful."
The church will be opening at 6.30pm on Wednesday evening (22 November) with books of condolences open for people to sign.
Tributes have also been shared away from the community. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak opened today's Prime Ministers Questions with a tribute to the teenagers.
He said: "The thoughts of the whole House are with the families and friends of the four teenagers who died in a car accident in North Wales."
In Shrewsbury, the town council has announced its annual Christmas lights switch-on has been cancelled out of respect for four teenage boys from the area who were found dead in a crash in north Wales.
The event in the Shropshire town was planned for tonight (Wednesday 22 November), but posting to social media, the authority said it would no longer take place.
Posting to X, the council said: "Following the tragic news yesterday we have taken the respectful decision to cancel the lights switch-on, scheduled for this evening.
"Our thoughts go out to all who are caught up in this terrible tragedy."
The bodies of Wilf Fitchett, Jevon Hirst, Harvey Owen and Hugo Morris, were recovered from a silver Ford Fiesta in Snowdonia on the morning of Tuesday 21 November.
Members of the emergency services launched a search for the boys after they failed to return home from an overnight camping trip to the Snowdonia area.
North Wales Police says the bodies were found inside the overturned car which left the A4085 at Garreg, near Tremadog, and was partially submerged in water.
Shrewsbury Colleges Group, where the boys were A-level students, offered “deepest condolences to the family and friends” of the teenagers and said it had put in place a range of support measures to help those affected.
Trinity Churches said it would offer “time and space to pray” at the Trinity Centre in Meole Brace from 9am on Wednesday, while Shrewsbury Abbey is open all day for prayer and reflection.
In a post on Facebook, Trinity Churches said: "Such an outpouring of grief as people all over Shrewsbury remember the four boys who have died.
"Along with many other churches, we are offering a quiet space and place to remember. From 9am in the Trinity Centre."
Superintendent Owain Llewellyn from North Wales Police said: "Police officers attended and located a Ford Fiesta vehicle on its roof, partially submerged in water.
"Tragically, the bodies of four young males were recovered from within the vehicle.
"The families of the missing boys have been informed.
"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."
Inquiries into why the car left the road are under way, the force said.
Tributes have been paid to the teenagers online, including the local football club, Shrewsbury Town FC, who expressed "thoughts and condolences".
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