River tragedy
Tragedy at fairy pools
A fund started to help pay for the funeral of a young girl who died in a tragic accident broke through the £20,000 barrier yesterday.
Seven-year-old Freya Skene was dragged down waterfalls on the River Braan near Dunkeld on Monday evening.
She was taken to Ninewells Hospital but sadly died a short time later.
Her devastated family said in a statement:“Freya was a cheeky little devil who we loved so much. She was our little guardian angel.”
A seven-year-old girl who died in a freak accident this week was described by her family as “a bright, glittery princess who loved everything fabulous”.
Freya Skene and mum Brooke Reid were dragged down a series of waterfalls in the River Braan near Dunkeld on Monday evening.
Brooke and her partner Sean McKiddie desperately tried to save Freya, who was from Dundee, and emergency services arrived on the scene to take her to Ninewells Hospital but sadly she could not be saved.
In a statement on Wednesday Freya’s family said: “We had to say goodbye to our best friend, our life, our world, our everything.
“Freya and I were in a freak accident that had us pulled down multiple waterfalls. I was lucky to survive but sadly our poor baby girl passed away.
“Freya was a cheeky little devil who we loved so much. She was our little guardian angel.
“Our family are so grateful for all of the support we have received.
“However, we now ask that we are given time to grieve for Freya in peace.”
Brooke, who was treated for minor injuries, had earlier taken to Facebook to speak of her loss.
She said: “I stayed with Freya the whole night and most of today before she was taken away.
“Everyone tried their best and I couldn’t be any more grateful for the emergency teams all out trying to save us.
“We were playing in the fairy pools and the next minute, out of nowhere, a current hit us both and swept us away.
“I tried my very best to hold on and grab every rock I was passing but before I knew it we had lost each other. I was lucky to survive but sadly our poor baby girl passed away.
“As I was trapped on rocks Sean managed to get Freya out but it was too late. However, the emergency teams treated us both as best as they could.
“My heart and everyone else’s within the families are broken. We were having such a good day. How could this happen? How could our baby girl be taken away from us so suddenly? How did I survive?
“What I know is I survived for a reason and we are all going to make her so proud.
“I know she left a print on everyone’s heart because she was so kind, caring, bubbly and determined in life.
“I don’t know how life will be without her but together as a family we are going to do everything we can to make sure she is always remembered.”
Freya’s dad Robert Skene also posted a tribute to his little girl and thanked those who had posted messages of support.
He said: “Just want to say a massive thank you to everyone for the support and the extremely heartfelt messages you have sent. I really appreciate them all.
“I had the best eight years of my life that I’ll truly never forget.
“She was the funniest, happiest, most sassy little girl I know and I’ll forever be grateful for how she changed my life for the better.”
A Gofundme page has now been set up to help with funeral funds and over £20,000 had been raised as the PA went to press.
It said: “We are raising money to give Miss Freya Ava Skene the best send-off that she deserves.
“As we all know Freya was a bright, glittery, princess who loved everything fabulous.
“We want to make sure she gets a beautiful princess horse and carriage that she deserves.”
Following a post-mortem on Wednesday Freya’s death was confirmed as non-suspicious and the police investigation has now concluded, with a report submitted to the procurator fiscal.
Detective Chief Inspector Ray Birnie of Dundee CID said: “Our sincere condolences are with Freya’s family, community and all those affected by this absolutely tragic accident.
“I would like to recognise the efforts of the emergency responders who attended the scene and also the medical staff who later battled to save Freya. I would also like to thank the witnesses who came forward to us with information.
“We continue to provide support to Freya’s family.
“I would like to stress that the family have requested that their privacy is respected at this incredibly difficult time.”
She was our little guardian angel mum Brooke