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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Gap year students killed in crash | Gap year students killed in crash |
| (about 21 hours later) | |
| Three British students have been killed in a road crash while on a gap year trip to South Africa. | Three British students have been killed in a road crash while on a gap year trip to South Africa. |
| Nick Thompson, 19, Oli Mobsby, 18, and Ed Lowton, 18, were returning from a safari when they were involved in a head-on crash near Cape Town. | Nick Thompson, 19, Oli Mobsby, 18, and Ed Lowton, 18, were returning from a safari when they were involved in a head-on crash near Cape Town. |
| The trio, all from Dorset, were in the "wrong place at the wrong time", Mr Mobsby's father Stephen said. | |
| The three made so many friends in South Africa that a memorial service was held in Cape Town. | The three made so many friends in South Africa that a memorial service was held in Cape Town. |
| Stephen Mobsby added: "They were thoroughly enjoying themselves. It's just wrong place, wrong time. | |
| "They never had any disappointments in life. They were just having a fantastic time out there." | "They never had any disappointments in life. They were just having a fantastic time out there." |
| It was clear to families and friends in England that the young men were having the time of their lives Family statement | It was clear to families and friends in England that the young men were having the time of their lives Family statement |
| The three took their A-levels together at Gillingham School last year and set off on the adventure in January before the crash on 9 March. | The three took their A-levels together at Gillingham School last year and set off on the adventure in January before the crash on 9 March. |
| In a joint statement, their families said the boys had been planning and working towards the trip since sixth form. | In a joint statement, their families said the boys had been planning and working towards the trip since sixth form. |
| It was to be their "great adventure" before taking up their places at university. | It was to be their "great adventure" before taking up their places at university. |
| The first six weeks was to be spent in Cape Town before travelling on to Thailand to meet several more friends on gap year, then on to Australia, Fiji, New Zealand and the west coast of America before returning to England in June. | The first six weeks was to be spent in Cape Town before travelling on to Thailand to meet several more friends on gap year, then on to Australia, Fiji, New Zealand and the west coast of America before returning to England in June. |
| The statement said: "From the phone calls home, text messages, photographs, the postings on Facebook and words from friends they made there, it was clear to families and friends in England that the young men were having the time of their lives. | The statement said: "From the phone calls home, text messages, photographs, the postings on Facebook and words from friends they made there, it was clear to families and friends in England that the young men were having the time of their lives. |
| "The families of the three young men are very grateful for all the support we have had from their friends and the tributes paid to them." | "The families of the three young men are very grateful for all the support we have had from their friends and the tributes paid to them." |
| Funerals for the three teenagers will be held at the end of March and beginning of April. | Funerals for the three teenagers will be held at the end of March and beginning of April. |
| Mr Mobsby and Mr Lowton had been accepted at York University, where Mr Mobsby was planning to read management studies, while Mr Thompson had a place at Newcastle to read business studies. | Mr Mobsby and Mr Lowton had been accepted at York University, where Mr Mobsby was planning to read management studies, while Mr Thompson had a place at Newcastle to read business studies. |
| Keen footballer Mr Mobsby was from Bourton, Dorset, while rugby player Mr Thompson, from Stalbridge, Dorset, played for North Dorset Colts. | Keen footballer Mr Mobsby was from Bourton, Dorset, while rugby player Mr Thompson, from Stalbridge, Dorset, played for North Dorset Colts. |
| Mr Lowton, also a keen rugby player, leaves two brothers, Tom and Harry. | Mr Lowton, also a keen rugby player, leaves two brothers, Tom and Harry. |