✕CloseSnowdonia search underway for four missing teenage boys
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Police have found a car four missing teenagers were travelling in during a camping trip in Wales amid freezing temperatures.
Jevon Hirst, Harvey Owen, Wilf Henderson and Hugo Morris are thought to have been travelling in the Harlech and Porthmadog areas of Gwynedd when they disappeared.
North Wales Police believe the teenagers had gone camping in the Snowdonia area and a huge search operation involving helicopters, the coastguard and mountain rescue teams has been launched.
In an update issued just after midday on Tuesday, the force said: “Officers searching for four missing teenagers in the Porthmadog area have located the vehicle they were travelling in.
“Emergency services are currently at the location and the families of those involved have been kept updated.”
Temperatures in the area plummeted to zero overnight and worried friends and family say they were only equipped with basic camping supplies because they were just going for one night.
Harvey’s mother Crystal Owen told the BBC: I am frantically worried, we haven’t slept a wink, we are desperate to chase any lead we can.”
They were last seen in the silver Ford Fiesta, registration HY14 GVO.
Show latest update
‘Atrocious’ weather conditions on Sunday
A resident has told how he was woken to the noise of a helicopter above his house this morning, as he shared his concern for the four missing teenagers.
He said the weather in the area around Garreg was ‘atrocious’ on Sunday, when the teenagers were last seen.
Speaking to the BBC, Emyr Owen said: “I was woken about 5am by the sound of the helicopter above, so I got up to look through the window.
“The policeman told us all he’d had the orders to close the road – you can’t go through there towards Beddgelert.
“It was atrocious weather on Sunday. I don’t know what happened to four young men in the car, hopefully nothing bad.”
Alex Ross21 November 2023 13:541700574639
Shrewsbury College issues statement
We know at least one of the four missing teenagers attends Shrewsbury College. The college has issued a short statement on the “worrying” situation.
A spokesperson said the college “hopes the teenagers are found safe and well soon”.
They added: “It must be a very worrying time for the family and friends of the teenagers.”
Alex Ross21 November 2023 13:501700573508
Key points so far
– Sunday morning – Four teenagers reported missing by North Wales Police
– Tuesday, 3am – HM Coastguard respond to request from North Wales Police to search Porthmagod area. Nothing found.
– Tuesday, 10.18am – Welsh Ambulance Service called to incident near the A4085 between Nantmor and Tan-Lan.
– Tuesday, noon – Silver Ford Fiesta the teenagers were travelling in is found by police after information from the public.
Alex Ross21 November 2023 13:311700572865
‘Phone signal can be very patchy'
We’ve just spoken to Tom Hopkinson, who runs Walk Snowdonia, offering hiking experiences to people in the region. He has shared what people should take with them on a trip, and what to do when lost.
He said people should take with them camping gear with a good sleeping bag and a roll mattress to keep them off the floor. In terms of hiking equipment, protective clothing will help against the conditions, he said.
He added: “Phone signal can be very patchy. You obviously try not to let it happen [getting lost] in the first place, but if you do get lost then go back to the last known location, try not to panic and try to call out for help, and then try to figure out where you are.”
Alex Ross21 November 2023 13:211700571586
Welsh Ambulance Service response
A spokesperson for the Welsh Ambulance Service has told The Independent that crews were called out to an incident in relation to the missing four teenagers this morning.
Two ambulances, response units and two helicopters were sent to a location near near the A4085 between Nantmor and Tan-Lan at 10.08am.
Nantmor is around seven miles from Porthmadog, and four miles from the village of Garreg, where police have put up a road block on the A4085.
The spokesperson said: “We were called today, at approximately 10.08am, to reports of an incident near the A4085 between Nantmor and Tan-Lan.
“We sent an operations manager, two emergency ambulances and two Cymru High Acuity Response Units to the scene where we were supported by the Emergency Medical Retrieval and Transfer Service in two Wales Air Ambulance charity helicopters.”
Alex Ross21 November 2023 12:591700571280
‘Very worrying'
A Wales MP says she is being kept up to date on the major search for the four missing boys. In a statement posted on X, Liz Saville Roberts, the MP for Dwyfor Meirionnydd, said the situation was “very worrying” as North Wales Police and local mountain rescue teams take part in the operation.
She said: “The disappearance of these 4 teenagers whilst on a camping trip in Eyri is very worrying. My immediate thoughts are with their family and friends who will be extremely concerned about their welfare. I understand North Wales Police, local mountain rescue teams and other members of the emergency services are continuing their search efforts this morning.
“My office and I are being kept updated on any developments. I urge anyone with any information to contact North Wales Police, quoting reference No: A184194.“
Alex Ross21 November 2023 12:541700570713
Car discovered after information from the public – police
North Wales Police has just issued an update, sharing more information on how the silver Ford Fiesta, which was carrying the four missing teenagers, was found.
No location has yet been given for the location of the car, but the force said: “Following information from a member of the public, Officers searching for four missing teenagers in the Porthmadog area have located the vehicle they were travelling in.
“Police officers and colleagues from other emergency services are currently at the location and the families of those involved have been kept updated.
“Further information will be released when available.”
Alex Ross21 November 2023 12:451700570435
Two weather hazards – Met Office
Weather conditions while climbing hills in Snowdonia National Park can be particularly challenging. The area has 15 mountains more than 3,000 ft high – the highest is Snowdon at 3,560ft.
For today, The Met Office has issued warnings for two weather hazards for peaks rising above 984 ft in the area.
The first is for a “severe chill effect” with winds feeling significantly lower than the average actual temperature. Strong winds can also result in a severe and debilitating wind chill, the office says.
At 12noon, the wind gust at 984 ft is 17mph, while the temperature will feel like 5 C.
It adds: “Without protection, prolonged exposure could result in frost nip or frostbite on exposed parts of the body and/or hypothermia.”
The second hazard is “poor visibility”, which the office said presents a challenge when taking a route in the region. Visibility could be significantly less than 50 metres in all direction, it adds.
Alex Ross21 November 2023 12:401700569910
Road blocked
Police have set up a corden near the village of Garreg Llanfrothen, which is about five miles from Porthmadog.
The road blocked is the A4085, which heads toward the mountains in Snowdonia. Police have not yet revealed where the car the teenagers were travelling has been discovered.
Alex Ross21 November 2023 12:311700569340
Search area
It’s not yet been disclosed by North Wales Police where the car the four teenagers were travelling in has been found, but we know the search operation covers the areas of Harlech and Porthmadog.
Alex Ross21 November 2023 12:22NewerOlder✕
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