The grieving families of three teenagers killed in a horror crash have shared emotional tributes to their loved ones, and say their "hearts are broken". Emergency services raced to the two-vehicle collision on the B4035 near Shipston, Warks., at around 4.10pm last Friday.
Harry Purcell, 17, and 16-year-old Matilda Seccombe, known as Tilly, were airlifted to hospital but died on Saturday. A third pupil, Frank Wormald, 16, was also airlifted to hospital with multiple injuries but died on Sunday.
Another 17-year-old, Edward Spencer, is in a stable condition following surgery. The teenagers were all Year 12 students who attended Chipping Campden High School.
Harry’s parents family said in a statement: "Our hearts are broken but our love for Harry will live forever. He was so kind in every way and carried with him a contagious smile that everyone around him loved so much.
"He will live on in everyone’s hearts and memories forever and never be forgotten."
Tilly's family said: "We are utterly devastated by the loss of our beautiful girl who made us so happy. Our hearts go out to all who knew her and will share this terrible pain. Thank you Tilly.
"We are blessed to have had you in our lives."
The crash happened when a Ford Fiesta, which the teenagers had been travelling in, collided with a Fiat 500. A woman and her two step-children, who were in the Fiat, all sustained serious injuries and are in a stable condition in Oxford’s John Radcliffe Hospital.
A relative of the woman said the children were “very poorly”. In a letter to parents, Principal John Sanderson said: “There are no words that I can find to express the sense of loss that we feel, both as a community and for Harry's, Tilly's, and Frank's families and close friends. “Each one of these young people has been part of our extended school family and each loss is felt profoundly.
“In time, I would like to try and find the words to pay tribute to each of the young people we have lost, as each was remarkable and unique, having touched the lives of so many in such profound ways. We continue to hope and pray that he will make good progress in recovering from his injuries over the coming weeks and months.
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"Edward and his family are very much in our thoughts. This is a very difficult time for us all but there is strength and hope in knowing we walk it together.”
Since the tragedy, the school has been deluged with dozens of floral tributes and opened a book of remembrance for pupils to share their memories of the tragic classmates.
