It was the summer holidays and one of Ty Mawr caravan park's busiest weekends of the year.
But when the air ambulance landed on the road outside many holidaymakers began to realise something had gone seriously wrong.
Soon a caravan was taped off and the resort near Rhyl on the North Wales coast was swarming with police and paramedics.
As speculation mounted, it emerged the body of a 15-year-old girl had been discovered in one of the caravans following reports of a 'domestic disturbance'.
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Police announced a 19-year-old man had been arrested on suspicion of murder and was being questioned at nearby St Asaph police station.
"This is a tragic but isolated incident and there are no risks to members of the public," Det Supt Mark Pierce said at the time.
"We would like to thank the staff and management of Ty Mawr, and members of the public both locally and those holidaying, for their support whilst we carry out are investigations.
"Our thoughts are with the family who are being supported by specially trained officers at this time."
The news rocked the small seaside resort.
Kay Redhead, mayor of Towyn and Kinmel Bay said: "It's knocked us to the core. This is a fantastic place where we welcome everyone.
"This time of year we have 45,000 to 50,000 extra people in the area and with staycation it's ready bustling.
"Ty Mawr is a well organised and managed family camp and when something like this happens it affects everybody..'
"It's a tragic situation."
Mother of two Carly Hargreaves, 44, who had arrived on holiday from Manchester the day before, said: "We are staying two rows behind where it happened and didn't hear a single thing.
"I can't stop thinking about it because my son is 16. To come away on holiday and not go home with that special person is tragic. It's a normal family-orientated site."
A spokesperson for the holiday park said: "We are shocked and saddened by this tragic incident.
"This was an isolated and unprecedented incident which took place inside a caravan which is now a crime scene.
"Our team are assisting police with their enquiries and as it is a police matter we can’t comment further at the moment."
Three days later, on Tuesday, August 3 last year, Matthew Selby, of Windermere Crescent, Ashton-under-Lyne, appeared in court accused of murder.
The victim, it emerged, was his younger sister Amanda.
In a heartbreaking tribute Amanda's family described her as a 'loving daughter and granddaughter'.
"She was caring, thoughtful, liked to help others and very much loved," they added.
"She will be very sadly missed."
As news filtered back to her home town the community began paying their own tributes.
Droylsden Academy, where Amanda was a Year 10 pupil, said they were 'devastated by this awful news'.
"Amanda was a lovely student and she will be sorely missed by students and staff," a message on the school website added.
Amanda's Jiu Jitsu club, Kamiza Dojo, said she and her mother had been a big part of the club for many years.
It said: "Our club is saddened to hear the tragic news that one of our students, Amanda Selby, has lost her life while on holiday with her family.
"The Kamiza Dojo family is truly devastated by this awful news....
"We are truly heartbroken, Amanda will be sorely missed."
An inquest opening heard Amanda had been on holiday with her family when she was killed.
The provisional cause of death has been given as asphyxia due to neck compression, external airways obstruction and crush asphyxia, the coroner was told.
She was pronounced dead at 4.15pm on Saturday, July 31.
Matthew Selby had been due to stand trial for murder later this month.
But at a short hearing at Mold Crown Court on Monday, where he appeared via videolink from HMP Berwyn, he pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of his sister Amanda.
The plea had been accepted based on close analysis of psychiatric reports, Ian Unsworth QC, prosecuting, said.
Selby would be seen again by a psychiatrist before his sentencing, his barrister Gordon Cole QC, said.
Judge Rowlands adjourned the case for sentencing on March 18.
