The four teenagers killed in a North Wales car crash died as a result of drowning, an inquest opening has heard.

Jevon Hirst, 16, Harvey Owen, 17, Wilf Fitchett, 17 and Hugo Morris, 18, were all pronounced dead at the scene of the collision near the village of Garreg in Gwynedd.

None of the teenagers’ families attended the brief four-minute hearing in which Kate Robertson, HM coroner for North West Wales, stated the provisional cause of their deaths was drowning.

The inquests into their deaths were adjourned pending ongoing police investigations.

A search was launched to find the four from the Shropshire area, who had been missing since Sunday, 19 November.

Their upturned silver Ford Fiesta was discovered, partially submerged in water, on Tuesday, 21 November.

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The mother of Harvey Owen said in a tribute it was “unbearable to think” he would always be 17 and “even harder to accept”.

She described him as “laid back, charismatic, cheeky” and a “boy that preferred to be outside and active”.

“He was the most gentle soul, always feeling empathy for people and seeing the good in everyone,” she added.

“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.”

18-year-old Matt Richards from Shrewsbury has set up a fundraiser with his sister to help the boys’ families with funeral costs.

Mr Richards, who was friends with Hugo, told Sky News he was “funny”, “easy going” and “would never fail to brighten up your day”.

Read more:
‘Touching to see so many pay respects’ to four boys killed in crash
Mother describes ‘nightmare’ after son among four found dead

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North Wales Police continues to appeal for information as part of its investigation.

The force is particularly keen to obtain dash cam footage from anyone travelling on the A4085 between Penrhyndeudraeth and Beddgelert in either direction between 11am on Sunday 19 November and 10am on Tuesday 21 November.

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