It makes you realise what's important: Tunisia terror attack survivor Owen Richards tells of horror
A teenager from the Black Country who survived the Tunisia beach shootings in which his brother, uncle and grandfather were all killed has spoken for the first time of his ordeal.
Owen Richards, aged 16, from Wednesbury, was on a family holiday in June when Seifeddine Rezgui opened fire on tourists.
His brother Joel Richards, uncle Adrian Evans and grandfather Patrick Evans were among the 30 Britons who were killed.
The courageous student said the horrific events had made him appreciate what was important in life.
He said: "When people moan about stuff, you think 'just shut up'. It makes you realise what's important."
Owen remains in contact with other survivors who he met in hospital in Tunisia.
Naomi Wearing, 18, from Blackburn and Lucy Pettit, 23, from Slough, say he has helped them through continuing hospital treatment back in the UK, keeping in touch and offering encouragement, helping them in their recovery.
Owen, who turned 16 just a month before the attack and recently started sixth form at Stuart Bathurst RC High School and College in Wednesbury, said: "I was the youngest person involved.
"Lucy and Naomi were the closest in age group to me.
"We met in hospital in Tunisia and kept in touch when we got home, texting and messaging each other regularly.
"We can relate to each other and what we went through in a way that people who weren't there cannot."
There was an outpouring of support for the family following the shocking killings, with hundreds attending the funerals.
Owen and Joel, 19, had been treated to the holiday as a reward for working so hard for their exams.
Owen was aiming to get back in time for his school prom; Joel, a promising footballer and referee, was going out to Hungary to officiate some matches; then they were looking forward to a holiday with their mother Suzanne.
She recalled the moment she received the phone call from her son.
"That morning everything had been normal. Then there was that one phone call and everything changed," she said.
"It happened so quickly. Owen was using someone else's phone so he couldn't speak for long. I could hardly believe what he was saying. But I put the TV on and realised it was real.
"I'm so glad Owen rang and that I found out from him rather than just hearing about it on the news. Otherwise I wouldn't have known if he was OK.
"I felt so helpless because I was so far away.
"Owen was 16 and he was on his own. He'd only got Lucy and Naomi with him.
"When I reached him, we had lots of hugs and tears, it was such a relief to get to him."
"Owen misses his brother. He looked up to him for everything. They had a fantastic relationship."
