Holiday reps die in outing

The accident happened near Puerto del Rosario

Two British holiday reps died when a four-wheel drive vehicle overturned during an expedition on the Canary Island of Fuerteventura, British Embassy officials said on Monday.

Faye Williams, 19, from Doncaster, south Yorkshire, and Rhian Jewell, 25, from Pencoed, south Wales, were with colleagues on a Thomson Holidays staff outing when the accident happened.

Our team of reps are very, very close and this has affected them all

Thomson Holiday spokeswoman

The women were taking part in a "jeep safari" when their 4x4 vehicle left the road and overturned at 1700BST on Sunday, between Puerto del Rosario and La Oliva, according to a British Embassy spokesman in Madrid.

It was also revealed on Monday that Ms Jewell was the passenger in a car last summer when two friends were killed on the neighbouring isle of Tenerife.

She escaped with cuts and bruises in the smash.

Ms Jewell had wanted to make a new start and moved to Fuerteventura.

A Thomson spokeswoman said: "Our team of about 25 reps in Fuerteventura are very, very close and this has affected them all.

"The entire team has been stood down, with replacements making their way over there today from other resorts and also the UK.

Everyone who knew Rhian is devastated

Lorraine Day, family friend

"We have been in contact with the families and offered support and counselling to them and all the staff."

The spokeswoman said other staff members had been injured in the accident but their condition was not believed to be serious.

Family friend Lorraine Day said: "It is awful that someone can come out of a terrible experience like that only to die in another accident.

"She was such a happy, lovely girl - everyone who knew Rhian is devastated."

Her parents, Sheila and Norman Jewell, are both retired lecturers and they were being comforted by their two sons Geraint and Eirion at their detached home in Pencoed.

Mrs Day said: "They are a lovely family who have lived here for 30 years. They are terribly upset."

Ms Jewell had dreamed of being a holiday rep after leaving school at Ysgol Gyfun Llanhari before going to college.

Former headmaster Peter Griffiths said: "She had a bright, sunny personality and was perfectly suited to being a holiday company rep.

"She was so full of life - ebullient and smiling."