Tributes are paid to train death trio
BY TOBY PORTER
toby@slpmedia.co.uk
Tributes have been paid to three graffiti artists who died after being hit by a train.
Alberto Fresneda Carrasco, 19, Harrison Scott-Hood, 23, and Jack Gilbert, 23, are believed to have been on the tracks spraying artwork when they were struck between Brixton and Loughborough Junction stations in the early hours of Monday.
Relatives said in statements they were “heartbroken” by their deaths – though a Beckenham Conservative Party chairman provoked outrage by describing the young men as “common scum”.
The three men are believed to have been hit by an out-of-service passenger train at 1am on Monday, British Transport Police (BTP) said.
Spray cans were found near their bodies, which were spotted by a train driver more than six hours later.
Mr Scott-Hood, nicknamed Lover, from Muswell Hill, north London, was mourned by his parents Perry Hood and Susie Begg, who is a successful painter and art agent.
They said: “We are completely heartbroken by the loss of our only son, Harrison. He was the love of our life, a kind and beautiful young man and we were beyond broken by this news.
“Harrison was loved by everyone. He was an intelligent and wonderful boy who had so many close friends. Over the past 24 hours we’ve received so many lovely messages of support from his friends and we are both grateful for all of their support and kindness. Hearing about their love and friendship for Harrison is helping us during this awful time.
“Many people will know Harrison loved to travel, he was a beautiful artist and spent time recently travelling around Vietnam and Cambodia.
“Harrison completed us. He is irreplaceable and we will hold the memories of him dearly.
“We now ask for privacy as we come to terms with the loss of Harrison.”
Mr Carrasco, nicknamed Trip in the street art community, a Spanish-American man who lived in Hampstead, north London, had been due to begin studying graphic design at the London College of Communication in Elephant & Castle in September.
His family said in a statement: “With great pain we have received the news of the death of our son, Alberto.
“We believe the three were hit by a train when they were painting graffiti late at night in a particularly dangerous place.
“Alberto had left home at 5pm on Sunday afternoon. His last message was at 10pm that evening announcing his intention to return home for dinner. Our concern grew after many hours without hearing from him. From early in the morning we learned of the accident in which “three men” had died in Brixton, but at first we did not establish the connection.
“Alberto Fresneda Carrasco was born in New York and had turned 19 on May 25. Alberto had dual nationality, Spanish and American, although he felt at home in north London. He arrived in the city with his friends at the end of 2011, in time for the Olympic Games. Our most emotional memories of him was the basketball final between the United States and Spain. As a child he played football in a local team in London – his heart was divided between Everton and Sevilla.
“From a very young age, his passion was to draw. He was ready to study graphic design at the London College of Communication (LCC) from September. In recent years, he showed interest in the world of fashion and came up with a brand with his own designs. Another of his hobbies was buying clothes in charity shops and reselling it on the internet. He had a special eye for business. His absence has left a deep hole in the family. His mother Isabel, his father Carlos and his bothers Miguel, 21 and Julio, 14, appreciate the support and ask that their privacy be respected in these specially sad times for us and for the city.”
The family of Mr Gilbert, from Muswell Hill, nicknamed K-bag, said: “There are no words to describe the devastation we feel. He was a wonderful son, brother, uncle and boyfriend. His generosity was endless and he would help anyone who needed it. He lit up everyone’s world just by being in it and never failed to put a smile on people’s faces.
“The hole he has left in our hearts will never be filled.”
The tragedy took place on an elevated stretch of track with no refuge to escape trains on the busy electrified line in South London.
Fresh graffiti and spray cans appeared overnight at the station near to where where they died after being hit by a train.
Three bright bouquets of flowers have also been left under the sign with one of the cellophane wrappings sprayed with the name Trip in pink.