Tributes to music lover, 16, who died after festival asthma attack
THE brother of a 16-year-old boy who died at a Welsh music festival has paid tribute to a “family-orientated” and “wonderful young man”. Schoolboy Rhys Murray, from Port Talbot, died following an asthma attack on Friday, May 26, at the In It Together festival held in Margam.
Speaking to WalesOnline, his brother, Thomas Murray, said it was music lover Rhys’ first festival, which he attended to take a well-deserved break from his exams. He described his brother’s passing as a “tragedy” and is now looking to organise a music-filled event in his memory.
Thomas, 19, said: “Rhys was my absolute world, he was my rock and everything someone could mean to someone. He was absolutely adored and worshipped by his family. He absolutely loved musical theatre and performing on stage. He was very big into his drama and music in general. He loved his boxing too.
“He was just a wonderful boy and a ball of charisma. There are no words I can use to describe him, but he was absolutely amazing. We are close in age and we spent every day together, everything we did was together.
“He was absolutely amazing at singing and acting. The boy had an infectious smile and personality, his love could be felt by everyone. He was very family orientated and very close to myself, and my grandparents in particular. He was such a lovely kid. He also was a massive credit to his school, Ysgol Cwm Brombil, he was amazing.”
Thomas said Rhys was one of the people who had helped set up Afan Arts drama group, and was involved in other drama groups including the drama department at his school. “He was a lead ambassador for Port Talbot youth community drama group,” Thomas said, adding that Rhys was a long-term asthma sufferer. Rhys also leaves behind his beloved parents, grandparents and two sisters.
Posting on his personal Facebook page, Thomas appealed to the public to help him organise an event in his brother’s memory. He said his dream would be for Lewis Capaldi or a Liverpool FC member to attend.
The post reads: “I know this is a really big long shot but I hope the power of social media can really show itself, as I’ve said in the previous post I hope to start charities in my brother’s name and use funding to secure a place for said events to take place. I’m looking for [two] things.
“1. Any music equipment that anybody can donate (I mean literally anything), and this one is the biggest one and spare my stupidity - if this is a stupid thought, I really want to get in touch with Lewis Capaldi and someone from Liverpool FC. Many of Lewis’s songs touched me and Rhys massively and are a massive coping mechanism. Rhys wasn’t a massive football fan but he came to a Liverpool game with me last year and he really enjoyed and I always knew deep down he was a scouser just like his big brother. Facebook, please do your magic.”
So far the post has received 52 comments and more than 600 shares from friends, family and strangers who want to help. Thomas said: “The response to my post has been absolutely amazing, I think it just shows how loved he was as a person and how many people he loved himself. My goal is to keep his spirit alive. I just want to get anyone I can to come and have a massive ceremony for him with music. I want to do something after the funeral because, right now, everyone is in bits - but that is the goal.
“Rhys loved music in general but I chose Lewis Capaldi because he liked that genre in particular and his lyrics mean a lot. I thought if I could get anyone to sing for Rhys it would be him. In terms of Liverpool FC, I took Rhys to his first game last year and he really enjoyed it.”
Rhys’ school, Ysgol Cwm Brombil, shared a heartfelt tribute in his memory. It reads: “It is with deepest regret that on Friday, May 26, one of our valued pupils tragically passed away following a serious asthma attack which led to complications. Our most sincere condolences go out to the family and friends of this wonderful young man.”
Afan Arts drama group also posted: “It is with profound sadness and a heavy heart that we announce the sudden passing of Rhys Murray. A founder member of our youth theatre, Rhys was a highly skilled performer, a polite and respectful young man with a keen sense of humour. It has been a privilege for us to have him and he will be missed.
“His passion for performance shone. This no more so than in his wonderful performance in the film ‘Same But Different’, of which we know he was immensely proud. Rhys spoke so eloquently and passionately about his love of the arts and performance, in our Podcast, in January. It is a recording we will treasure.
“As a mark of respect there will be no session of PTYT on Thursday, June 8, but we will be open for anyone from PTYT who wishes to come together, talk and reflect. We send our love and support to Rhys’ family, his friends, Ysgol Cwm Brombil and all those affected by his passing. Afan Arts will use the healing power of the arts to support everyone, but for now we simply mourn his passing.”