Tributes to ‘gifted and kind’ teen who succumbed to virus
TRIBUTES have been paid to a Scots teenager who died after being struck down by the flu bug sweeping the UK.
Bethany Walker, 18, was airlifted from her Highland village home and died in hospital the same day.
The ‘kind and gifted’ youngster from Applecross, Ross-shire, initially suffered flu symptoms, which later developed into pneumonia.
She was flown 80 miles to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness with her mother at her side.
But Bethany’s condition deteriorated and despite the efforts of intensive care staff, she died within hours.
Her heartbroken mother, Heather Teale, paid tribute to the former deputy head girl, who wanted to be a midwife.
Posting on social media after the tragedy last Friday, she wrote: ‘My beautiful daughter Bethany Walker was taken from me yesterday.
‘She had been suffering from a flu virus, which became pneumonia, she was airlifted to Raigmore with me by her side, where she rapidly deteriorated, the staff in intensive care could not have done more, she was given the best possible treatment from a team of eight people for over two hours, they tried everything possible but sadly despite their best efforts she didn’t make it.
‘I am broken, the bottom has fallen out of my world. I have my Mum with me, and my wonderful son Danny who are both feeling the same loss as I am.
‘Life will never be the same again. Bethany, I love you to the moon and back, I always have and I always will, you were the best daughter I could have ever wished for and I will always be the proudest Mum in the world.
‘I have no more words. I’m truly devastated. Sleep tight my beautiful girl, your brother and I will love you forever, you will never be out of my thoughts as long as I live.’
Bethany had been a pupil at Plockton High School, where she won the Proxime Accessit award before leaving last summer. Writing on Facebook, Rector Susan Galloway said: ‘The whole of our school community has been saddened at the news of the tragic loss of Bethany, who was a pupil until the summer of 2017 when she left school, after six very successful years, to take a gap year before taking up her place in Aberdeen to study midwifery.
‘Bethany was a kind, caring, gifted and exceptionally conscientious student and a super role model for younger pupils, both in the school itself and in the hostel where she resided during the week and where she was so well thought of by the residence staff.
‘In S6 Bethany was appointed as our deputy head girl and conducted herself so well on all public occasions and in carrying out her duties. It was a privilege for all of us to have taught Bethany, to have known her in her years in the school and to have maintained contact with her after she left. It is tragic to lose someone so young and the thoughts of the whole school and the hostel are with Bethany’s family at this sad time.’
Tributes poured in on social media. Broadcaster Monty Halls, who lived on the Applecross Peninsula while filming the Great Escapes TV series, wrote: ‘I am so, so sorry to hear this news – it is beyond comprehension. Words seem so completely inadequate. Every member of the film crew remembers her so fondly, a total delight.
‘My deepest condolences to your
‘I love you to the moon and back’ ‘Never have we all been so heartbroken’
family. I know the entire team send their best wishes, their thoughts, and their love.’
Linda Turnbull, the aunt of Bethany’s best friend Bronwyn Glover, wrote: ‘Never have we all been so heartbroken or grief-stricken. Bethany was one of life’s most beautiful and amazing young women you could possibly meet. She was the best and closest friend to my gorgeous niece.
‘Bethany was taken far too soon from this world. She captured all our hearts as part of our own family. She was beautiful, intelligent, funny and perfect.
‘We will miss her for ever. We will never forget you, beautiful girl.’
Bethany’s employers at the Applecross Inn posted: ‘Farewell to dear Bethany, another fantastic member of our team who we sadly lost last Friday after a short illness, you were the belle of the ball at Hogmanay and indeed everywhere.
‘Such a tragic loss of someone so perfect in every way, so polite, such beauty, humour, fun, music and studies.
‘You were pure pleasure as an employee, loved by every member of our team, so much devotion and dedication to all you did.’