Joshua Bowen

The girlfriend of a teenager from the Shropshire border who died after a road crash in Australia has paid an emotional tribute describing him as “the most amazing guy”.

Joshua Bowen, 19, from Bronington, near Whitchurch, died following the incident in Brisbane on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast.

The former Maelor School pupil died earlier this week along with best friend, 19-year-old Richard Tennant, known as Rinny, from Marchwiel, in Wrexham.

A 26-year-old man also travelling with the pair is still at the Royal Brisbane Hospital following the incident last Friday evening.

Joshua’s girlfriend Rachael Webb, from Penycae, Wrexham, said he was “a legend in his own right”.

“He was the most amazing guy and I’m never going to find another one like him,” she said.

“He helped everyone with so many things and was always there for a hug or just to talk to.

“Both him and Rinny were loved by everyone, they were so energetic and always happy and smiling.

“The teachers at the Maelor are all devastated because they were friends with the teachers because they were so intelligent and they were on a different level.”

She added Joshua was “the most intelligent person I knew” having achieved four A grade A-levels in biology, chemistry, physics, maths and further maths.

The two men, who were best friends, went travelling to Australia in February and were touring the east cost and working as pineapple pickers in Brisbane.

Josh, of Bronington, is survived by his parents Cecelia and Simon, and an older brother Dan who is at Cardiff University and younger brother Elliot who is in year ten of the Maelor School in Penley.

A Facebook group set up dedicated to Joshua’s memory has attracted hundreds of members, as has a group set up dedicated to Richard Tennant.

The friends were both former students of the Maelor School in Penley and Mr Tennant worked as a trainee chef at the Cross Foxes pub, Erbistock.

By Abigail Bates