Two British teenagers killed in car crash while travelling across world's largest salt flats

Bolivian driver also killed after car flips and third British man taken to hospital

Friends Joe Atkins (left) and Freddie McLennan (right), both 19, died in a car accident on 9 June 2019 while travelling in Bolivia. (PA/family handout)

A pair of British teenagers have been killed after their car flipped while travelling on the world’s largest salt flats in Bolivia.

Freddie McLennan and Joe Atkins, both 19, died in the crash on Sunday while a third British man was taken to hospital.

The 22-year-old Bolivian driver, named locally as Alberto Barco, also died.

McLennan and Atkins were both former students of the 500-year-old Cranbrook School in Kent and had been travelling after finishing their A-levels.

It is believed the car flipped over as it was being driven on Bolivia’s famous Salar de Uyuni – the world’s largest salt flat.

Bolivian authorities said a further three people were involved in the accident.

McLennan’s family paid tribute to him as an exceptional young man who was “as caring as he was fun to be with”.

They added: “He excelled at school and his exam results were a source of great pride.

“He was thoroughly enjoying his opportunity to travel and experience new parts of the world, before preparing for the next stage in his life at Leeds University.

The Salar de Uyuni, the world's largest salt flat located in Bolivia near the crest of the Andes. (Franck Fife/AFP/Getty Images)

“We are eternally grateful that Freddie came into our lives. We are struggling to come to terms with his passing.

“He brought a joy and love to us, which we will always remember, but miss greatly.”

Atkins’ family said he had a “character brimming with kindness and humility, and anyone that knew him was struck by his understated yet self-assured nature”.

They added: “Quietly intuitive, he always knew the right thing to say and the role that he decided to play as the calming presence and fiercely loyal friend will be forever appreciated by those that knew him.

“Always seeking the fun side of life as a little boy, he grew up to be a young man that loved family dog walks as much as nights out with friends, and he remained quietly ambitious and determined in his pursuit of a career in engineering, for which he achieved such fantastic A-Level results.

“Joey was the son that gave us endless pride, the brother that brought laughter to our home and the friend that you’d always want by your side.”

In a statement published on its website, Cranbrook School said: “We share the grief of the families at their tragic loss and offer them our sincerest condolences.”

The experience of driving on the salt flats has been compared to driving through clouds by travellers.

But travel publisher Lonely Planet warns: “Travellers should take great care in choosing which tour operator to go with when visiting the salt flats.

“Fatal accidents due to unsafe vehicles and drivers are not unheard of.”

The Foreign Office said: “We are supporting the families of three British people who were involved in a car accident in Bolivia and are in close contact with the Bolivian authorities.”

Press Association contributed to this report