“HE was on the cusp of a perfect life” – those are the words of the devastated parents of a young Hampshire man killed in a horrific car crash.

Talented snowboarder Oliver Guerreri was a front seat passenger when the Hyundai his friend Ben Deakin was driving collided with a Land Rover Discovery.

The 23-year-old died at the scene, while Ben, 24, died in hospital on Easter Sunday. Last night Oliver’s grieving parents, Joe and Carole, paid tribute to a “beautiful” son who was “just enjoying life”.

Joe, 56, told the Daily Echo that Oliver and Ben had been go-karting during the day and were heading to Liverpool for a night out when the tragedy happened in Bylchau, North Wales.

The former Swanmore College student, who was one of six children, had been due to visit the family home on Sunday.

“It is a terrible, dreadful tragedy that his life was taken away,” Joe said.

“He was on the cusp of a perfect life.

“All the preparation and training had been undertaken and he was into a career that he was doing well at and being successful.

“If you have never experienced this feeling, it is difficult to fully empathise with those involved.”

The cause of the accident on Saturday evening is still being examined. Ben, from Walton on Thames, Surrey, died in hospital a day after the crash while the driver of the Discovery, a 40-year-old man from the Liverpool area, was treated for minor injuries and has since been released from hospital.

Oliver, known to pals as “Ollie”, was a keen snowboarder and had competed in competitions and time trials, only recently enjoying a trip to Italy. He also enjoyed tennis and had tried his hand at radio presenting in the past.

His mum Carole said he had been in line for promotion at the National Grid where he worked as an IT strategist.

He lived and worked in Guildford, Surrey.

She added: “He was gorgeous and he always tried his best. He was just enjoying life.”