Teenager dies in plunge from high-rise during Schoolies on Gold Coast
Schoolies on the Gold Coast have banded together to honour a teen who fell to his death from a 42nd-floor balcony.
Schoolies attendees on the Gold Coast have banded together to honour a teen who fell to his death from a balcony in the early hours of Friday morning.
Tributes flowed in online and at the site where the 18-year-old boy plunged from the 42nd floor of the Hilton Hotel at Surfers Paradise around 2.30am Friday morning in front of horrified revelers.
Police have ruled the death as non-suspicious and the boy’s family have been notified.
Flowers were left at the site of the tragedy, a food court beside the hotel, throughout the day. Several contained notes, with one simply reading “rest easy brother”.
It is believed the teen had taken to social media before his fatal fall after a night of clubbing.
Several schoolies posted messages on the unofficial Facebook group for the two-week-long end-of-school celebrations. A night time vigil has been organised by peer Taylah Tysoe for tonight at Cavill Avenue to allow fellow revellers to grieve and pay their respects, with more than 100 people pledging to attend.
“As most of us are aware of what happened last night in Surfers, acknowledging mental health and taking the people around us into consideration is so important no matter the circumstances,” Ms Tysoe wrote in a Facebook post.
“My heart hurts for the family and friends of this boy and I want to ensure that everyone knows that there are people here for you. If you aren’t feeling yourself or believe you’re in a dark place, please reach out, please use that voice of yours and use the people that care about you to your advantage.”
Counsellors were made available today to comfort friends and witnesses. Safety volunteer service Red Frogs encouraged people reach out to Lifeline and other support.
About 20,000 schoolies descend on the Gold Coast each year, with more than 80,000 celebrating around the country.
It’s the latest of several high-rise deaths at Schoolies on the Gold Coast.
Last year, Hamish Bidgood, 18, fell to his death after inhaling ‘nangs’ — or nitrous oxide gas from whipped cream canisters.
This year’s Schoolies celebration has already been marred by accusations of rape levelled against a Victorian teenager.
Lifeline: 13 11 14 or lifeline.org.au; Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636 or beyondblue.org.au; Kids Helpline: 1800 55 1800 or kidshelpline.com.au; Headspace: 1800 650 890 or headspace.org.au
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