The mother of a teenager who was laid to rest without his heart is appealing for her son not to be forgotten following his tragic death overseas.
Harry Begg, aged 19, was fatally injured in a suspected hit-and-run incident in Tenerife on December 1, 2025. Shortly before Harry’s funeral, Spanish authorities informed his mother, Nicola Gardner, that his body had been repatriated to the UK without his heart for further examination. Nicola, who hails from Liverpool, disclosed that Spanish police had initiated a murder inquiry into her son’s passing.
Harry, a resident of Kirkby, was riding an electric bike in Arona, located in the southern part of the island, when he was allegedly struck by a driver who fled the scene. He sustained severe head injuries and was declared deceased at the site. Harry had relocated from Liverpool to the Spanish island 18 months before the tragic incident.
Expressing her grief, Nicola emphasized, “I refuse to let Harry fade into oblivion. He was a remarkable individual who will always be remembered, and I firmly believe that.”
In an interview with the Liverpool Echo, Nicola expressed her anger over the delayed repatriation of her son’s body, which arrived in the UK three weeks after his demise. The coroner’s office in Liverpool and Wirral was notified of Harry’s death on December 31, 30 days post the incident. Allegedly, his funeral occurred at All Saint’s Church in Anfield on January 6, and he was laid to rest two days later due to challenges in obtaining paperwork from the Spanish authorities.
Questioning the circumstances surrounding her son’s death, Nicola demanded answers about the prolonged period Harry’s body was held in Spain and the retention of his heart, given that his cause of death was a head injury. A Spanish investigator informed Nicola that Harry’s heart is being preserved for further analysis due to the ongoing criminal investigation.
Harry, the youngest among four siblings, passed away just weeks before turning 20. His brothers, Thomas, aged 21, Ted, aged 25, and Nicholas, aged 27, are reportedly devastated by the loss. Nicola revealed, “Thomas and Harry were inseparable. One was never seen without the other. Thomas is shattered.”
Nicola had not seen Harry since he departed for Tenerife 18 months prior to his demise. Recalling their last exchange, she shared, “He initially went for a vacation. He had friends there and fell in love with the place, deciding to remain.”
Expressing her ongoing struggle with her son’s untimely death, Nicola lamented, “I doubt I will ever truly recover from this. It is incomprehensible. Someone out there holds crucial information.”
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