Fifth Shrewsbury teenager 'pulled out of fateful camping trip at the last minute'
A fifth teenager decided not to go on the ill-fated camping trip that saw four Shrewsbury teenagers die this week.
Jevon Hirst and Harvey Owen, both 16, Wilf Fitchett, 17, and Hugo Morris, 18, were found after a search on Tuesday.
The group of friends, who were on a camping trip in the Snowdonia area, had not been heard from since the weekend and their bodies were discovered on Tuesday.
However, the tragedy could have resulted in five deaths, as a friend of of the group pulled out at the last minute, it has been reported.
Hugo's best friend was also meant to be on the camping trip, said Mimi Ropotka, 35, who worked with Hugo at Pret a Manger in Shrewsbury town centre .
Ms Ropotka spoke to the The Telegraph newspaper as she paid her respects at Shrewsbury Abbey on Wednesday.
She said Hugo was a barista who “loved the job” and “picked it up quickly”.
“We are devastated by Hugo’s death. He was just an amazing person,” she said.
Hugo’s best friend ultimately pulled out of the camping trip after deciding he would go on a different one instead, Ms Ropotka said.
“He can’t believe he has lost his friend so suddenly and tragically,” she said, adding that the teenager was in a “really bad way”.
“We have closed the shop today [Wednesday] out of respect,” she said.
