Fine art student from Hampstead private school among three dead 'graffiti artists' killed by train

A fine arts student from Muswell Hill has been named as one of the suspected graffiti artists who died on Monday morning after being hit by a train near Loughborough Junction.

The parents of Harrison Hood, 23, released a tribute through the British Transport Police.

His parents, Susie and Perry, 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.”

The artist died alongside his friends, 19-year-old Alberto Fresneda Carrasco and an unnamed 23-year-old who are believed to have been on the railway line with him as part of a group graffiti project.

A family friend of Hood’s told The Telegraph: "He came over to our house hundreds of times... [my brother] is grieving right now."

He said many of Hood's friends were involved in the London graffiti culture, adding: "Their school was an arts school, and there were quite a few people that were into street art."

When Hood wasn't creating street art, he was painting pictures for his mother Susie, an agent who represents artists. She proudly displayed a painting her son had made of the family cat, Boy, on social media.

Likewise his father, Perry, was proud of his son, posting photographs of him on holiday in Barcelona and Turkey, writing that he cherished his time with him.

John Shelley, the father of Hood's childhood best friend said he was shocked to hear of the deaths, commenting: "My son in London’s best friend from primary school days was one of the three graffiti artists killed in the Loughborough Junction rail accident. I can’t imagine what he’s going through now. 

"My son is an artist like myself, and...his friend was too, definitely not a 'yob 'as some have surmised. Whatever their character or intentions, these boys didn’t deserve this. My son is distraught, his oldest and closest friend."

19-year-old Alberto Fresneda Carrasco also perished on the tracks, his family confirmed.

His family said in a statement: "With great pain we have received the news of the death of our son, Alberto, in the incident in which two other young people also lost their lives in the vicinity of Brixton station. The British Transport Police informed us on Monday afternoon. We believe the three were hit by a train when they were painting graffiti late at night in a particularly dangerous place. 

 "Alberto Fresneda Carrasco was born in New York and had turned 19 on 25 May. 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 of 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."

Friends of the student told The Telegraph that the “really funny” teenager from Camden had aspirations to be a graphic designer, but loved the thrill of “tagging.”

Matilda Munyard, a close friend of his, said: “Tagging was his favourite thing to do. A couple of weeks ago when I saw him he said his favourite thing was to go trackside and tag along the tracks.”

Soldado’s friends said they already miss him, and that he was “the nicest most generous boy in the world.”

Tom Hayden, his best friend from college, told The Telegraph: “Never once has anyone ever seen him get angry or aggressive. He was really funny.

“He was amazing at art. In lessons he would make the most amazing and detailed drawings. He created his own fashion line, making jumpers and T-shirts which were really good.”

Ms Munyard agreed, adding: “There was never a bad moment with him. He was so passionate about his art, he was funny, he was kind, he was so interesting and I know he would have gone so far in life. Have never met a more loving individual and I am never going to forget him and his beautiful personality and smile.”

Tributes flooded in on social media for the three men, who died in the early hours of Monday morning.

Dozens of pictures on social media show street artists daubing tributes on walls across London.

Overnight on Monday, three black hearts and RIP were sprayed on shutters outside Loughborough Junction station in South London, along with spray cans and bright bouquets of flowers.

Wellwishers also left three bottles of spray paint with the nozzles removed - in pink, yellow and orange.

Police say three men were discovered on the elevated train tracks around 7.30am yesterday by a train driver.

All three were pronounced dead at the scene and had injuries "consistent with being hit by a train".

The area is said to be a graffiti hotspot - with its proximity to Brixton and a trend in youngsters to try and get their tag on tricky-to-reach spots along the railway line.

British Transport Police also said the young men had been dead for "awhile" before they were found.

Family members of all three deceased men have been notified, the police force added. Superintendent Matt Allingham said they investigating which train may have hit them - with the possibility it was a freight train.

He added the layout of the tracks meant there would not have been a "safe refuge area" for the men to wait if a train came past.