Harry Begg, 19, died in an alleged hit-and-run in Tenerife on December 1. His heartbroken mum Nicola Gardner is now urging people not to forget her son
Jonathan Blackburn and Laura Hill
09:48, 20 Apr 2026Updated 10:31, 20 Apr 2026
Nicola Gardner, mum of Harry Begg, with a picture of her son.(Image: Liverpool Echo)
A mother is urging people not to forget her son more than four months after he was killed in Tenerife. Harry Begg, 19, died in an alleged hit-and-run on the Spanish holiday island on December 1.
Just hours before his funeral in Anfield on January 6, mum Nicola Gardner was informed by Spanish authorities that Harry had been returned to the UK without his heart, which was being retained for additional tests. Nicola, 50, from Liverpool said that Spanish police had opened a murder investigation into Harry’s death.
In correspondence Spanish investigators describe the case as a “criminal death”. It is understood no arrests have been made.
Nicola told the Liverpool Echo : “I don’t want Harry to be forgotten. I don’t want Harry to be brushed under the carpet. Harry wasn’t the type of person who could possibly be forgotten and I’m confident in that.”
Harry, from Kirkby, was riding an electric bike in Arona in the south of the island when he was allegedly struck by a driver who did not stop. Harry sustained catastrophic head injuries and died at the scene.
The TF-652 road in Arona, Tenerife.(Image: Google)
Tributes were placed near a palm tree close to where the incident occurred. Flowers, candles and a Liverpool shirt were left, alongside a message that read: “I love you forever wee bro.” Harry had relocated from Liverpool to Tenerife 18 months prior to his tragic death. His body was returned to the UK more than three weeks afterwards, according to Nicola. The Liverpool and Wirral coroner’s office received notification of Harry’s death on New Year’s Eve, 30 days following the incident.
Harry’s funeral service was held at All Saint’s Church in Anfield on Tuesday, 6 January. His burial at Anfield Cemetery took place two days later, delayed by difficulties securing documentation from Spanish authorities, Nicola explained.
Nicola stated: “I need to know why the Spanish coroner had Harry for over three weeks before he came over, and why they have his heart. It was a head injury. If they’d kept his brain, I could understand, but they’ve kept his heart.”
Harry Begg, from Kirkby, pictured aged 17.(Image: Liverpool Echo)
In correspondence viewed by the Liverpool Echo, a Spanish investigator informed Nicola that Harry’s heart “is being preserved pending further testing as the investigation progresses, given that it was a criminal death”. They continued: “Regarding the investigation, we continue to analyse information daily, as we do every day.”
Harry was the youngest of four brothers. He passed away just weeks before turning 20. His siblings, Thomas, 21, Ted, 25, and Nicholas, 27, have been left “devastated”. Nicola remarked: “Thomas and Harry were like peas in a pod. You didn’t get one without the other. He’s broken.”
Nicola described him: “Harry was caring, lovely, dead funny, and if he loved you, he loved you. He was dead clever and witty. He had an answer for everything.” Nicola had not seen Harry in the 18 months since he had departed for Tenerife. She explained: “He went over for a holiday. He had a couple of mates staying there, and he loved it so much that he stayed.
“We always talked over Facetime, and about three days before it happened, he said to me ‘Just think mum, if you get a passport, in six hours you could be sat next to me.’
“Then I had to get an emergency passport. The first time I went, they wouldn’t let me see him and there was no translator. I had no idea what was going on.”
Harry Begg, 19.(Image: Liverpool Echo)
Nicola went on to say: “I’m probably never going to be OK ever again. I don’t know how I’m supposed to be. Somebody knows something.”
Both the Guardia Civil and Merseyside Police have been approached for a response.
