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Public school birthday boy falls to death from clifftop
Last updated at 08:52am on 19.07.07
Talented pupil: George Frewer had been out celebrating
The body of George Frewer was found floating in water near rocks at Tristram Cove at Polzeath at breakfast time on Tuesday - the morning of his 17th birthday.
The officer investigating the case said his death was an inevitable result of the drink and drug fuelled excesses that take place in the up-market Cornish resort each summer.
Detective Constable Nigel Hoare, of Devon and Cornwall police, said the death was bound to happen "because of what goes on in Polzeath".
"He had been out with friends on Monday night and fell off the cliffs at Polzeath in the early hours of Tuesday morning and sadly died," he explained.
"It is not believed he was with his friends when he fell. The boy was staying with family friends.
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Teenagers gather at the clifftop after hearing news of the tragedy
"It is a terrible tragedy - But I am afraid it was just going to happen because of what goes on in Polzeath every year. In this case, the consequences have been quite tragic."
An inshore lifeboat pulled George from the water shortly after he was spotted by a holidaymaker floating in the sea at 8.15 am on Tuesday.
He was found close to a secluded beach and his body was then taken to the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro.
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The cliff from where George Frewer is believed to have plunged
The teenager had just finished the first year of study for his A-levels at the £24,075 a year Radley College in Oxford where he was a boarder at the 630 pupil boys school in Abingdon.
His merchant banker father Martin, 47, yesterday travelled to Cornwall to visit the scene of the tragedy while his wife Caroline was last night understood to be comforting the couple's 15-year-old son Henry.
Mr Frewer, who works in the City, lives in Tadley, near Basingstoke, Hampshire.
Mr and Mrs Frewer said: "George was a great sportsman, loving, generous and extremely popular. We will miss him terribly. At this difficult time we would ask the media to leave the family and George's friends in peace."
Family sources claimed the couple were distressed at suggestions their son may have been involved in drugs as he was always "very much against them".
However, one holidaymaker - who refused to be named - claimed the teenager had been smoking cannabis at a party shortly before he fell into the sea.
Detectives cordoned off part of the car park near where he fell as the tourist told reporters: "He was smoking pot and he fell off the cliff. I heard he had been out partying with friends. There are a lot of posh young holidaymakers down here."
Despite the drugs claim it emerged yesterday that George was a popular boy who had entered his name on the social networking website 'Facebook' where he listed 405 people as his friends.
The mother of one of his school pals, who did not wish to be named, told the Daily Mail: "Everyone down in Cornwall is in a state of shock. My own son is in bits - as are others who have been holidaying down there.
"George was a lovely lad and certainly not a wild boy who would get out of control. It is just tragic."
Radley School said: "The school is shocked and saddened to hear of the death of George Frewer and our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this difficult time."
Schoolfriends revealed that George was a keen sportsman and played on the wing for the school rugby team.
The tragedy had cast a shadow over the controversial West Country holiday venue which in recent years has been dubbed 'Kensington-on-Sea' and 'Sloane-on-Sea'.
Each summer the resorts of Polzeath, Rock and Daymer are descended upon by hundreds of public schoolboys and girls with a reputation for alcohol fuelled violence and partying.
The group have been dubbed "Snob Yobs" by locals as many take to beaches and hold parties into the early hours.
There is a recognised drug taking culture when rich students visit and in the past week both Polzeath and Rock has seen almost nightly disorder.
Hundreds of youngsters have been accused of behaving badly - causing damage to cars and property after holding drink fuelled beach parties.
Locals have also complained to police of littering, fighting and vandalism. Windows were even smashed at Polzeath's Marine Visitor Centre which is being used as a temporary police station during the public school summer invasion.
The month of July normally sees pupils from Radley, Wycombe Abbey, Downe House, Bedales, Harrow and Marlborough visit the area.
Next month it is the turn of students from Eton, Stowe and Westminster to holiday in a West Country region which first became popular with well-to-do students after Princes William and Harry visited after their exams.
In recent years police have been granted dispersal powers to break up outdoor parties and deal with general disorder while setting up 'exclusion' and 'alcohol free zones' at several beaches.
Last week the wing mirrors were pulled from the side of a police patrol vehicle which moved in to break up trouble and one man was admitted to hospital with a fractured skull after fighting broke out on one of the beaches. One Renault Clio car was jumped on by students using it as a "trampoline".
Last year dispersal orders were issued to 274 people banning them from Polzeath for 24 hour periods and local shop-keepers and bar owners confiscated more than 400 fake ID cards from under-age drinkers.
Reader views (17)
Here's a sample of the latest views published. You can click view all to read all views that readers have sent in.
I was shocked to hear of George's death and having known him for 5 years at Elstree I will both mourn his death as well as celebrate that such a great person lived.
- Ben Schwetlick, Pewsey, England
I second that Charlie; it is indeed a tradegy that a boy of 17 should die, whether from state or private sector education, and by no means is his wealth or background relevant in the memorial of the boy's life. This tragedy should not be used as an excuse to discuss contraversies. Instead it should be used to remind readers how young an age 17 is to die. His parents and friends need all the support they can get in this time of need, not adversity.
Rest in Peace.
- Sven, Norfolk
George was a great person and it was so shocking to hear the news.
- Alex, Oxford
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