Ryan Martel and Frankie Chapell

FRIENDS and family of Frankie Chapell and Ryan Martel from Guernsey gathered to celebrate their young lives yesterday.

Devastated by the loss, Amy Cresswell, a friend of Frankie’s from St Andrew’s Primary School, was unable to talk but her father Mark said, ‘It was important she was able to attend and pay her respects.’

Mr Cresswell travelled with his daughter and her friends on the ferry from Guernsey on Thursday night.

He had not attended the memorial service in Penmount, Truro, but said he was happy to be there to support his daughter.

More than 400 people attended the service of remembrance with a PA system outside the crematorium relaying the service to those outside.

Songs played during the service reflected the character of Ryan, 26, and Frankie, 17, who died after the car they were travelling in was swept away in floods early on Saturday 25 April.

These included Guns ’n’ Roses Sweet Child of Mine and Abba’s Dancing Queen.

Other songs were Alexandra Burke’s cover of Hallelujah, Buddy Holly’s Raining in my Heart, Snow Patrol’s Chasing Cars and Together in Electric Dreams by the Human League.