Tributes to teenage girl killed in roof fall in Largs
It happened late on Saturday night
Last updated 21st Jun 2021
Largs Academy is being specially opened up on the first day of the holidays to offer support to students following the death of a 13-year-old girl who fell to her death from a building.
Tributes are being left on Aitken Street where the tragic incident happened shortly before midnight on Saturday.
Emergency crews were unable to save the girl who is being named locally as Sarah Short.
Police say there are no suspicious circumstances.
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: "Around 11:45pm on Saturday, 19 June, 2021, police were made aware a 13-year-old girl had been injured after falling from the roof of a building in Aitken Street, Largs.
"Emergency services attended and the girl was pronounced dead at the scene. Enquiries are ongoing, however, there do not appear to be any suspicious circumstances surrounding the death."
Staff at Largs Academy are going into the campus on the first day of the school holidays to provide support to students grieving the death of their classmate.
Headteacher John Doherty wrote to parents on Sunday night offering appointments today for those who need them.
He told them he had spoken to the families and young people who had been directly affected and said there are plans to offer additional support.
Advice for helping teenagers after bereavement
Local minister Rev. Jonathan Fleming helped to set up a volunteer counselling centre in the town and says friends will need to time to process what's happened.
He told West FM News: "People are wanting to have moments of silence. They're wanting to do things like sending up balloons or having a big bonfire in memory of someone. They want to have something tangible to process this.
"A lot of the time it's not what we say that matters, it's the fact we are there to support, and be present, and to listen. That goes a long way.
"Never be ashamed to express how you're feeling. If you do that privately that's ok, if you do it in front of others people will understand."