Harry Begg: The Shocking Details of a Teen 'Robbed of His Heart' in Tenerife
Harry Begg, a 19-year-old from Merseyside, tragically lost his life in a hit-and-run incident in Tenerife, but his family's ordeal was compounded when they discovered his heart was not returned with his body. The case has sparked outrage and confusion, as authorities in Spain have retained the organ without clear justification.
A Targeted Attack on the Streets of Arona
On December 1 last year, Harry Begg was riding an electric bike in Arona, Tenerife, when he was struck in what police have alleged was a targeted hit-and-run. He sustained severe head injuries and died at the scene, with investigators describing it as a "criminal death", according to his mother, Nicola Gardner, 50.
Harry, remembered as a loving young man from Merseyside, was soon transported back to the UK, where his family planned to lay him to rest in an Anfield ceremony on January 6. However, the day before the funeral, Nicola received devastating news from Tenerife officials.
The Heart Left Behind in Spain
Nicola Gardner was informed that Harry's remains would be sent home without his heart, which coroners in the Spanish territory had decided to keep. In an emotional statement to the Liverpool ECHO, she expressed her anguish: "The biggest part of Harry was his heart. If Harry loved you, he loved you with everything. The biggest part of Harry is stuck in Tenerife, where he was killed; left like a dog to die in the road."
Messages from Spanish police, viewed by the ECHO, claimed that Harry's heart "is being preserved pending further testing as the investigation progresses, given that it was a criminal death". They added in a communication to Nicola: "Regarding the investigation, we continue to analyse information daily, as we do every day."
Family's Quest for Answers and Closure
Nicola Gardner has voiced her confusion and distress over the decision, stating that there was no medical need to retain the heart since Harry died from a catastrophic head injury and had a healthy heart. She lamented: "There was no need for them to take the heart. He had a healthy heart, and he died of a catastrophic head injury. There was no peace for me at the funeral, no closure."
The case highlights broader issues in cross-border investigations and the handling of victims' remains, leaving Harry's family grappling with unanswered questions while seeking justice for his untimely death.
