A mother says she and her family have been “destroyed” by the loss of her 21-year-old son after his body was found in a large area of ponds in Merthyr Tydfil in February. Six weeks later, his family is still searching for answers, still trying to understand the final moments of a life that meant everything to them.

Brad Hawkins, 21, a young father of two from Merthyr Tydfil, was described by those who loved him as vibrant, hardworking, and full of life. He was the father of two young boys, Greyson and Hudson, aged four and one—children who now grow up holding memories of a father taken far too soon.

On February 24, just hours after his car was involved in a police chase, officers discovered Brad’s body in Dowlais duck pond. The circumstances surrounding his death remain unclear, and his family continues to struggle with unanswered questions about what happened in the moments leading up to his passing. Despite ongoing grief and uncertainty, no clear explanation has been given, leaving loved ones in a painful search for truth and closure.

To his mother, Jaya Bouchard, Brad was not just a son—he was her “best friend.” She remembers him as a “cheeky” and popular young man, someone who could light up a room and make his family laugh even in difficult times. He was deeply devoted to his children, who were the center of his world, and he carried the responsibilities of fatherhood with love and pride far beyond his years.

His family now finds themselves holding onto memories while grappling with the uncertainty of his final hours. They are still trying to piece together what happened on that day, seeking answers that might bring some measure of peace. Questions remain about whether more could have been done, and whether the full truth of the events leading to his death has yet been uncovered.

In moments like these, grief is not only about loss—it is also about absence of clarity, about the weight of not knowing. For Brad’s loved ones, healing feels distant while unanswered questions remain. Yet even in the midst of sorrow, his memory endures through the love he gave and the lives he touched.

Brad Hawkins will be remembered as a devoted father, a beloved son, and a young man whose presence meant everything to those closest to him. His laughter, his personality, and his love for his children remain lasting parts of his story.

May he rest in peace, and may his family find strength, truth, and comfort as they continue to search for answers and honor his memory.