Two British friends killed after quad bike 'smashes into hotel bus' in Turkey

Two British tourists have died in a horror bike crash in Turkey, their heartbroken relatives have revealed.

Cory Dove and Matthew Steward, both 26, were on holiday in Turkey when they suffered “multiple traumatic injuries” in the early hours of May 14.

Matthew, from Harwich, Essex, had travelled to popular holiday destination Fethiye two days earlier for a family holiday with his 24-year-old partner Dannielle Rose, along with her daughter from a previous relationship, Ruby, six, and their son Roman, three.

On the night of May 13, Matthew and Cory left the hotel to travel to a shop on a quad bike.

Hours later, Dannielle was informed that the pair had died and was asked to identify the bodies.

Matthew’s parents, Lisa and Gavin, described the weeks following his death as “absolute hell” and are now fundraising to cover legal and translation costs, as well as a headstone for their son at Dovercourt Cemetery in Harwich.

They claimed that they had been “lied to” and given incorrect information following the accident.

Lisa told MailOnline: “Dannielle can't go home at the moment, she's finding it very difficult to go home, and we're just heartbroken, absolutely heartbroken. Absolutely devastated.

“He's got a twin brother, James, and they did everything together. They didn't have many friends, they had each other, and he's just said: 'My life's done, my other half is gone.'

“We just have to keep going for him and the children. It's just heartbreaking.”

They pleaded with other families not to use quadbikes, describing the vehicles as “dangerous” and “not worth it”.

Lisa added: “As a mother, you're supposed to protect your children and I can't do that for him – that's the hardest thing for me, not being able to make it better for him, there's nothing I can do.

“Families out there need to realise quad biking is classed as an extreme sport, so you're not insured.

“These quad bikes are dangerous. Don't go on them, no one needs this heartache. It's not worth it.”

Inquest proceedings have been opened and adjourned with a full hearing to be held in February 2025.