A heartbroken family whose 26-year-old son died following a “harrowing” accident in Turkiye is pleading with other families.

Lisa and Gavin Steward’s son Matthew Steward, from Harwich, Essex, died in the early hours of May 14 2024 after the quad bike he was travelling on with his friend Cory Dove, 26, collided with another vehicle in Turkiye.

His family are now warning others not to use the vehicles as they said they are “not worth it”.

Matthew had travelled out to Fethiye on May 12 2024 for a family holiday with his 24-year-old partner Dannielle Rose, a carer, along with her daughter from a previous relationship, Ruby, six, and their son Roman, three.

On the night of May 13, Dannielle said Matthew and Cory left the hotel to go to a shop on the quad bike – and hours later, she was told the news that they had died and she and Cory’s partner needed to identify the bodies.

Lisa, 42, Gavin, 44, and Dannielle are now fundraising to cover any legal and other expenses, such as for a solicitor and translator, and to purchase a headstone for Matthew. They are urging other families not to use quad bikes as “no one needs this heartache”.

Speaking about the impact of his death, Lisa said: “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.” Lisa, Gavin, and

Dannielle described Matthew, who worked at a local electrical manufacturing company, as charitable, outdoorsy, caring and shy.

The “hands-on dad” met Dannielle at school and they remained friends for years, each going on to have separate relationships and children, but she said their relationship was “meant to be”.

As a Christmas present to the couple, Dannielle’s parents booked them a family holiday to Turkey – and the pair flew out on May 12 2024, along with Ruby and Roman, excited for the 10-day trip ahead.

Dannielle said Matthew’s friend Cory joined them with his family, and he hired a quad bike after they arrived in Turkey as he had previous experience driving the vehicles.

Late in the evening on May 13, Dannielle said Matthew and Cory, who was driving the quad bike, decided to take a trip out on the vehicle to a shop – and this led to the fatal collision, which Gavin described as a “total disaster”.

An inquest into the deaths of Matthew Steward and Cory Dove was opened and adjourned at Essex Coroner’s Court on June 12 2024.

According to the BBC, the hearing heard the friends, from Harwich, were involved in a road traffic collision with another vehicle in the early hours of May 14 2024, and they died from their wounds. A full hearing would be held in February 2025.

Along with releasing lanterns in memory of Matthew, they are planning his funeral for July 4, which will be a “celebration” of his life, and they said spending time together as a family is helping them cope with grief.