Harry Begg, a 19-year-old from Kirkby, Merseyside, died on December 1 in Tenerife following an alleged hit-and-run incident while riding an electric bike. He sustained severe head injuries and passed away at the scene. His mother, Nicola Gardner, was horrified to discover, just before his funeral on January 6, that his heart had been retained by the Spanish coroner for ongoing testing as part of a murder investigation into his death. Spanish investigators have described the incident as a "criminal death" and are analyzing information daily, though Nicola expresses frustration over the perceived lack of progress and reliance on only two eyewitness statements.
Harry, the youngest of four brothers, was set to celebrate his 20th birthday soon after his death. His burial was delayed by two days due to complications with paperwork from Spanish authorities. Nicola stated that the retention of her son's heart, which she described as "the biggest part of him," prevented her from finding peace or closure at the funeral. She is deeply distressed by the lack of progress in finding who killed her son and feels a profound sense of injustice. Harry had been living in Tenerife for 18 months prior to his death. Merseyside Police have confirmed they are aware of Harry's death and are in contact with the family to offer support, though the investigation remains with the Spanish police.