The mother of a teenager who was laid to rest without his heart is appealing for her son not to be overlooked following his tragic death overseas. Harry Begg, aged 19, passed away after an alleged hit-and-run incident in Tenerife on December 1, 2025. Just before Harry’s funeral, Spanish authorities informed his mother, Nicola Gardner, that his body had been returned to the UK for further examinations without his heart. Nicola, a resident of Liverpool, mentioned that Spanish officials were commencing a murder probe into her son’s demise.
Harry, hailing from Kirkby, was riding an electric bike in Arona, located in the southern part of the island, when he was reportedly struck by a driver who fled the scene after hitting the 19-year-old. Tragically, Harry sustained severe head injuries and was declared dead at the accident site. He had relocated from Liverpool to the Spanish island 18 months prior to the incident.
Expressing her grief, Nicola emphasized, “I refuse to let Harry fade into obscurity. He was unforgettable and will always hold a place in our hearts.” Speaking to the Liverpool Echo, she expressed her anger at the delayed repatriation of her son’s body to the UK, which occurred three weeks after his demise.
The coroner’s office in Liverpool and Wirral was informed of Harry’s death on New Year’s Eve, 30 days post the tragedy. His funeral reportedly took place at All Saint’s Church in Anfield on January 6, and he was laid to rest two days later due to bureaucratic hurdles with Spanish authorities, as per Nicola.
Questioning the circumstances, Nicola demanded answers regarding the prolonged retention of Harry’s body by the Spanish coroner and the decision to keep his heart despite the cause of death being a head injury. She was informed by a Spanish investigator that Harry’s heart was being preserved for further assessment as part of the ongoing criminal investigation into his death.
Harry, the youngest among four brothers, passed away just before his 20th birthday, leaving his siblings, Thomas, 21, Ted, 25, and Nicholas, 27, devastated. Nicola shared, “Thomas and Harry were inseparable. One did not exist without the other. This loss has shattered him.”
Having not seen Harry since his relocation to Tenerife, Nicola recalled, “He initially went for a holiday, ended up staying due to his friends, and fell in love with the place.” She recounted the challenges faced during her visits to Tenerife and expressed her ongoing struggle with the tragedy.
Nicola concluded, “I may never fully recover from this. The uncertainty surrounding his death is agonizing, and I am desperate for closure.”