Schoolies tragedy victim a popular teen

TRAGEDY: Isabelle Colman fell from a balcony on the Gold Coast during Schoolies. Source: Supplied

POPULAR teenager Isabelle Colman was today remembered as a talented young student taken much too soon after the much-loved 17-year-old died in a balcony fall at Schoolies on the Gold Coast.

Isabelle, who had attended Mt St Michael's College, Ashgrove, fell to her death on Thursday from a balcony on Tower Three of the Chevron Renaissance complex at 9.30pm.

Her body was found on the pool level, which is level 5.

The tragedy devastated family and friends, has shocked Schoolies on the coast and deeply saddened teachers and students at her former school.

Students and staff at Mt St Michael's have gathered to mourn and pray for Isabelle.

Principal Alison Terrey said the school community was deeply saddened by the death of the 17-year-old, and counselling had been offered to staff and students.

"Isabelle was an enthusiastic and much-loved member of the College community," Ms Terrey said.

A teenaged girl has died after falling from the balcony of a Gold Coast high-rise hotel.

"She was a well-respected student and was particularly interested in drama and the creative arts. She had been looking forward to furthering her studies in this area."

Ms Terrey said there would be an opportunity for Isabelle's classmates, many of whom are still away at Schoolies, to gather together at the college next week.

She asked for the privacy of all concerned to be respected in the wake of the tragedy.

Special report: Counsellor explains how to help your child deal with Schoolies tragedy

Police said CPR was performed on the girl at the scene, but she could not be revived.

Schoolies gather outside the Chevron Renaissance hotel after the death of a teen girl during schoolies celebrations. Picture: Attila Szilvasi

Assistant commissioner Graham Rynders from the South East region said he spoke with the girl's family on Friday morning and her parents were "deeply traumatised".

"It's been a very tragic night for all of us and has put a dark cloud over what has been a very successful Schoolies event," he said.

"They are a very personal and private family...they are asking everyone to respect their privacy."

Mr Rynders said the investigation into the girl's death was ongoing and refused to comment on the events leading up to her death.

However he did confirm that police have identified six people from "various locations" who saw her fall.

"Through our investigation today we have been able to establish a number of things which I'm not at liberty to discuss," he said.

The scene outside the Chevron Renaissance in Surfers Paradise after a 17-year-old girl fell from one of the towers. Picture: Glenn Hampson

"It is inappropriate to discuss the lead up to her tragic death. There are still a lot of people we need to talk to."

It has been confirmed the girl was sharing the room with a number of other people but was alone in the hotel room when she fell.

She fell from the 26th floor of the Chevron Renaissance.

A Brisbane school-leaver has told of her horror at witnessing the fatal Schoolies balcony fall.

"It's just really shocking," Chantelle Turner, still wearing her pyjamas, told media in Surfers Paradise.

Chantelle  said she was on the 23rd floor in the Chevron Renaissance building when she saw the 17-year-old girl fall from a neighbouring tower in the same complex.

The scene from the Chevron Renaissance in Surfers Paradise, with people looking on after a person fell from a balcony in Tower Three. Picture: Glenn Hampson

"I told my friends and stuff that I thought I'd just seen a person fall - they didn't really believe me," she said.

"Then when I got back to my tower, there was police and stuff everywhere and I just explained what I'd seen."

Chantelle said she was at the police station until about 12.30am giving a statement.

"Everyone's really devastated, I didn't get to sleep at all last night," she said.

"I called my mum after it happened and told her I was crying and wanted to go home. "

Chantelle's friend, Kelly Bray, said everyone feared the worst - that the dead girl was one of their friends.

The scene outside the Chevron Renaissance in Surfers Paradise after a person fell from one of the high rise towers. Picture: Glenn Hampson

"It's just horrific - everyone was just sitting here shaking," she said.

An ex-schoolmate of Isabelle;s broke down in tears as she spoke outside the scene of the tragedy at the triple tower Chevron Renaissance complex in Surfers Paradise.

"She was one of the girls from my old school (All Hallows)," Krissy O'Farrell said.

"I was downstairs when I heard and I thought 'no, it can't be her'.

"Everyone's just crying and really upset.

"I'm going home today because its just too traumatic. We can't believe it's happened."

A Schoolie sits slumped outside Chevron Renaissance in Surfers Paradise, where a 17-year-old girl from Brisbane plunged to her death from a balcony.

Another Brisbane school-leaver, Zara Simon, said one of her friends had also witnessed the tragedy.

"He's pretty shaken up - he's not very good at all," she said.

Zara said she was packing up and leaving Schoolies early.

"Everyone's devastated, everyone wants to go home - it's terrible, absolutely terrible," she said.

Cleveland school-leaver Alana Howe said the Schoolies party was over as far as she was concerned.

"Everyone wants to go home now," she said.

The scene outside the Chevron Renaissance in Surfers Paradise after a person fell from one of the high rise towers. Picture: Glenn Hampson

Shell-shocked teens are wandering the streets of Surfers Paradise trying to come to terms with the tragedy.

Twenty counsellors have been brought in to provide shattered Schoolies with grief support, and Schoolies can also access counselling online.

Brisbane Schoolie Gabi Wruck said she did not know the girl but the tragedy was too close to home.

"It's just horrible hearing that she's from Brisbane," she said.

"It's just a really tragic reality check - no-one's invincible at Schoolies, things can really go wrong."

Gabi said most teens would probably finish the Schoolies celebration 'but a lot more aware that things can happen'.

Special report:Counsellor explains how to help your child deal with Schoolies tragedy

Schoolies outside the Chevron Renaissance. Picture: Attila Szilvasi

Noosa school-leaver Alice Galbraith, who is staying at the Chevron Renaissance towers where the tragedy happened,  said the whole mood of Schoolies had turned sombre.

"The vibe's completely changed...everyone's just really down," she said.

"Everyone's really depressed about it and it's really bad."

Speaking from Gold Coast Police Headquarters at midnight, Inspector Pat Swindells called for any witnesses to the fatal fall to come forward.

"We have no further information at this stage. We're trying to ascertain what's happened," Insp Swindells said.

"It's a tragic end to a successful week."

The scene outside the Chevron Renaissance in Surfers Paradise after a person fell from one of the high rise towers. Picture: Glenn Hampson

Police have confirmed on Friday morning that they are treating the death of the young girl as non-suspicious but would not comment further.

Police said they were speaking to members of the girl's family.

The hotel was immediately placed in lockdown while some of its Schoolie residents took to social media to voice their initial reactions to the event.

They described a scene of panic as Schoolies watched in disbelief while paramedics rushed to the girl.

A Schoolie on the 24th floor wrote on Facebook: "oh god paramedics everywhere and the building is in lockdown. This is as scary as hell."

One witness told the ABC he saw the girl fall onto the pool area of the hotel.

"A girl fell off the balcony - just watched her fall," Schoolie Seb Giorgio said.

"I didn't want to watch."

Rory, a barman across the road from the Towers Of Chevron Renaissance, said hundreds of Schoolies were standing outside the hotel after the incident.

"I saw 200 Schoolies out the front of the building, two ambulance (crews), there were cops everywhere," he told AAP.

Insp Swindells refused to speculate on what may have happened.

"Any incident in a high rise is a concern," he said.

He warned the class of 2012 to take care while partying for the remainder of the week.

"This week of Schoolies has been a fantastic week. The young people who have been coming to Surfers Paradise have been exemplary in their behaviour."

Police said investigations into the circumstances surrounding the tragedy were ongoing.

Premier Campbell Newman expressed sadness at the death of the young woman.

"As the father of a year 12 school-leaver, my heart goes out to the family and friends of this young woman," Mr Newman said.

Mr Newman urged Schoolies to take care and watch out for their mates.

The death is a massive blow to Schoolies organisers, who had presided over a relatively quiet week until the tragedy.

Up to 30,000 Year 12 graduates are in Surfers Paradise for the rite of passage Schoolies festival.

Gold Coast Schoolies Advisory Committee Chair Mark Reaburn says organisers are devastated by the news of the girl's death.

"While the full details surrounding this tragic incident are yet to be determined by police, it's heartbreaking for all of us who work on and provide support services to Schoolies to learn that a young school-leaver lost her life last evening," Mr Reaburn said.

"Our most sincere condolences go out to her family," he said.

The tragedy comes just days after 18-year-old Cameron Cox was photographed sleeping on a ledge on the 11th floor of the Surfers Hawaiian Holiday Apartments. The photo, taken by a fellow Schoolie and posted on Instagram, sparked national safety discussions.

The Courier-Mail reported this month police were planning a balcony blitz to target high-rises, as debate raged over whether high-rise balconies should be locked off during the annual party.

Three people fell to their deaths from Gold Coast skyscrapers last month.

Police have previously ordered some balconies be closed, but pressure was mounting in the lead up to this year's festival for a full balcony lock-up.

It is understood coast unit managers have considered the move, but didn't follow through.

Matt Lloyd, who runs the accommodation website schoolies.com, told The Courier-Mail this month any decision to lock balcony doors could not be made hastily.

"A lot of students book a year in advance and they are paying for rooms they expect to have balconies," he said.

-- reporting by Brittany Vonow, Greg Stolz, Rikki-Lee Arnold and Sarah Vogler

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