Daily Record

My beautiful baby sister, forever 10 ..fly high princess

Probe into school hol pool death

- by John-Paul Clark

HEARTBREAK­ING tributes have been paid to a 10-year-old schoolgirl who died after an incident at a swimming pool in Aberdeen.

Jessica Rennie died at the city’s Royal Infirmary after getting into difficulty in the water at the Northfield Pool in Kettles -hill Crescent on Monday.

A police probe has been launched into the death, which is not being treated as suspicious.

Jessica’s heartbroke­n sister shared a series of photos of her on social media yesterday, saying the youngster would be “forever 10”.

Kirsty Smollet wrote: “I can’t believe this is real, my beautiful baby sister, forever 10. I hope there’s unlimited ice cream and every Harry Potter thing you could have dreamt of. Fly high princess.”

Emergency crews were called to the Sport Aberdeen facility at around 8pm on Monday but nothing could be done to save the schoolgirl, who was due to turn 11 next week.

Local man Yilmaz Huseyin told the Record how he had created a fundraisin­g page to support the girl’s mum with funeral costs.

The local community have since rallied round the stricken family and had raised more than £14,000 yesterday to give Jessica “the best send-off possible”.

Yilmaz said: “We have created a Go Fund Me for the beautiful Jessica. No family should ever have to be prepared for such a loss.

“Can the city of Aberdeen and afar please come together and donate as much or little as you can and help the family to give Jessica the best send-off we can.”

A tribute on the page said: “Devastatin­g – no words or money could ever replace such a beautiful child. Heartbreak­ing.” Another said: “Rest in peace beautiful girl. Let’s see Aberdeen come together for one of its own.”

Labour councillor Deena Tissera said a full investigat­ion must be carried out.

She said: “The circumstan­ces of this tragic accident require to be investigat­ed by Sport Aberdeen as this facility has just had millions of pounds spent on its upgrade. Aberdeen City Council as landlords for the facility should also carry out an investigat­ion.”

A Police Scotland spokespers­on said: “Inquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstan­ces surroundin­g the death.”

The pool said on its website it will remain closed until further notice.

 ?? ?? tragedy Jessica Rennie got into difficulty in the water
tragedy Jessica Rennie got into difficulty in the water
 ?? ?? investigat­ion Cops at the Northfield Pool, which has recently been refurbishe­d
investigat­ion Cops at the Northfield Pool, which has recently been refurbishe­d

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