British Teenager Laid to Rest Without Heart After Spanish Authorities Retain Organ
A British teenager who was tragically killed in an alleged targeted hit-and-run incident in Tenerife has been buried without his heart after Spanish police decided to keep the vital organ as part of their ongoing investigation. The distressing situation has left his grieving family in a state of profound anguish and seeking answers.
Catastrophic Incident in Arona
Harry Begg, a 19-year-old originally from Kirkby in Merseyside, was travelling on an electric bicycle in the Arona area of Tenerife, where he had been residing for approximately eighteen months. The young man was allegedly struck by a driver who failed to stop at the scene, resulting in catastrophic head injuries that proved fatal. The incident occurred on December 1 of last year, with Harry pronounced dead at the location.
Family's Heartbreaking Discovery Before Funeral
In a devastating blow just hours before his funeral service in Anfield on January 6, Harry's mother, Nicola Gardner, aged 50, was informed by Spanish authorities that they would be retaining her son's heart. "The biggest part of Harry was his heart," Nicola expressed emotionally. "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. We've buried him without it."
She shared these harrowing sentiments with the Liverpool Echo, highlighting the family's deep sense of loss and injustice.
Spanish Investigation into 'Criminal Death'
Spanish detectives have launched a murder investigation, classifying the case as a "criminal death." The probe remains active and ongoing. According to Nicola, a Spanish investigator communicated that Harry's heart "is being preserved pending further testing as the investigation progresses, given that it was a criminal death." The investigator added that they continue to analyse information daily as part of their standard procedures.
However, Nicola has voiced significant concerns about the pace and transparency of the investigation. "I haven't cried properly," she admitted. "Every time I look at a picture of him my head explodes because of the lack of investigation. You expect the police to do their job. You expect them to do what they're supposed to do. The Spanish police have told me they have two eye-witness statements, and still nothing."
Family's Quest for Justice and Closure
Harry, who was the youngest of four brothers, had not seen his mother since departing for Tenerife a year and a half ago. He initially travelled to the island for a holiday but decided to stay with friends after falling in love with the location. His burial was delayed by two days following his funeral mass due to complications in obtaining necessary paperwork from Spanish authorities.
Nicola further revealed that the Spanish coroner notified her they still possessed Harry's heart the day before the funeral, causing immense distress. "She said she would call me back when I had calmed down, and they still haven't rang me back," Nicola recounted. "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."
Describing her son as a "caring, lovely, dead funny, and if he loved you, he loved you" individual, Nicola emphasised his clever and witty nature. "He had an answer for everything," she remembered fondly. Yet, she remains tormented by the circumstances surrounding his death. "I'm probably never going to be okay ever again. I don't know how I'm supposed to be. Somebody knows something. You can't run a 19-year-old over and kill them and keep that to yourself. I don't have the words for them. Evil walks among us."
Police Responses and Ongoing Developments
A spokesperson for Merseyside Police confirmed their awareness of Harry Begg's death in Tenerife. They stated that while the investigation formally rests with the Spanish police, they are in the process of contacting his family to offer support during this difficult time. The Mirror has reached out to the Spanish Civil Guard for additional comments regarding the case.
The family continues to await meaningful progress in the investigation, hoping for justice and the eventual return of Harry's heart so they may find some semblance of peace.
