Nineteen-year-old Jack Howe was "beyond excited" for his first lads' holiday abroad after leaving school.

The Kings Hill teenager had gone shopping with his mum ahead of the trip to Zante, buying new clothes and sunglasses.

"I dropped him off at his friend's house on the Saturday night. They were getting an early flight the next morning. He texted me all through the holiday saying he was having the best time of his life," mum Steph Howe said.

But two days before he was due to fly home, on June 21, 2019, Jack was in a quad bike accident, just around the corner from the cove he was heading to.

Mrs Howe received a call while at work from one of Jack's friends, informing her that her son had died.

Two years on from the tragedy, Jack's family are continuing with their mission to raise awareness of risks on holiday and also to help families who cannot afford to bring back the body of a loved one, if they have died abroad.

A charity started by the Howes and close friends, called #JACKTHELAD, is today, on the second anniversary of Jack's death, launching a section on their website which shares tips and advice for young people on holiday, ranging from accident prevention, to drinking on a night out, sex and intimacy, as well as how to prepare for a trip.

Jack, who went to Sutton Valence school, was "completely fearless", Mrs Howe said.

"He skied amazingly but so fast. He just was up for anything. His dad had fast cars and he always wanted to drive them. He just loved life."

The 19-year-old, one of three siblings, had a job at a designer clothing store before the holiday and wanted to work for his dad's car finance company.

Jack and 10 friends travelled to Zante and on the first day most of group hired quad bikes to tour the island, before heading on a night out.

Mrs Howe says Jack had misplaced his driving licence, meaning he couldn't show it to the company, but was still given his own quad bike.

They were also told they didn't need helmets as it would disturb their vision, she says.

Two days before they were due to return, Jack and three friends rented the quad bikes again.

One of the friends travelling behind Jack said he saw one of the wheels lose traction on the rough, twisting lane.

Jack lost control of the bike and crashed into a tree.

An inquest into Jack's death heard that it was 90 minutes before an ambulance arrived.

He was then taken to the Agios Dionysios Hospital, which was on the other side of the island.

Doctors there attempted CPR on Jack who had become unresponsive, but he was later declared dead.

He died of severe chest and abdominal injuries

"He wasn't even speeding, he lost traction on this bend, it wasn't like they were going crazy," Mrs Howe said.

The family were advised by the home office not to fly out because it would be too traumatic for them, so instead a cousin and a friend travelled to Athens, where Jack was. He was then flown home.

"He was in a beautiful chapel, they waited there with him until he was put on a plane," Mrs Howe remembers.

Mrs Howe, 55, purchased travel insurance for Jack but after his death they discovered the insurance didn't cover quad bike accidents, and wouldn't pay out for flying Jack home.

The family were able to pay around £5,000 to bring Jack to back to England, but they know some people wouldn't be able to afford such a large sum straight away.

Mrs Howe said: "I just thought it was the most horrendous thing that any mum or dad could go through and then not to be able to get them home... I can't bear that thought."

The Howes set up the charity within months of the accident, with funds rolling in from a football match organised by Jack's friends at The Gallagher Stadium in Maidstone and other efforts. Another match is planned this September.

"I miss Jack every minute of every day..."

The family have now moved to Chester to be closer to relatives, but Mrs Howe says the support from the King's Hill community and Jack's friends was simply "amazing."

Due to Covid, the charity has not been able to fundraise, but the small group of dedicated volunteers are determined to make a difference and prevent other accidents, similar to Jack's, happening.

Mrs Howe said: "We really want to focus on education, once the world opens up again we really want to promote these safer holidays, we want to make it about prevention."

Speaking about Jack's Zante holiday, she said: "I just think they were having such a good time they didn't really think about the dangers and at that age you just do things without thinking about it.

"We are trying to get a message over to just think about what you're doing."

Tom Muirhead is a charity trustee and a lifelong friend of Jack's dad, Tony.

He says one of the charity's aims over the next 12 months is to deliver talks at schools and sixth-form colleges, and have stands at freshers' week at universities.

Speaking about the tips on the website, he said: "We are covering everything there could be, any kind of risk.

We are acknowledging the reality of life, we aren't trying to say don't do stuff, we are saying do stuff carefully."

"With 18 to 30-year-olds, there's going to be an element of risk, you might drink a bit too much, you might do other things, but we just want to try and promote that sense of caution. Think before you risk it."

Jack remains constantly on Mrs Howe's mind, she says.

"I miss Jack every minute of every day. I still can't believe I won't see him again.

"I try my hardest every day to be positive, I get up every day, have a shower, I do things.

"Even if you're having a barbecue and got friends round, 50 or 60% of your mind is on entertaining and the rest will still be on Jack.

She finished:"It never leaves you whatever you are doing."

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