Balloon vigil planned for Calderhead High School pupil Kiera Beagle

A memorial is planned for a schoolgirl who died after falling ill during a PE lesson.

Published 30th May 2016

A memorial is planned for a schoolgirl who died after falling ill during a PE lesson.

Kiera Beagle, 14, collapsed at Calderhead High School in Shotts, North Lanarkshire, on Thursday and died in hospital later that day.

Devastated friends will hold a vigil at the school a week after her sudden death and release purple balloons in her memory.

The event organisers wrote online: "On Thursday 26 May 2016 heaven gained another angel before her time when Kiera Beagle sadly passed away during school hours at Calderhead High in Shotts, and as a mark of respect one week on we are planning a balloon vigil to take place at Calderhead High.

"We are asking people to bring purple balloons to let off in memory of Kiera, candles are also welcome. The community has shown great support so far to all family and friends affected by such a tragedy via social media, let's show them face to face that we are all here for them."

A fundraising page set up by local DJ James Allan has raised nearly £3,500, which he said would go to "help her family in any way it can".

Kiera's family praised school staff for "giving her a fighting chance" and thanked the emergency services and hospital staff for "their professionalism and kind support".

The teenager was airlifted to the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Glasgow at about 2.30pm on Thursday but died a short time later.