Tributes after ‘dance queen’ Ava, 12, dies in river tragedy
Flowers and trophies left at the spot where talented schoolgirl lost her life
TRIBUTES have been paid to a 12-year-old girl who died when a day out swimming in a river with friends ended in tragedy.
Talented dancer Ava Gray’s body was pulled from the River Leven after a three-hour search on Sunday night.
Police and fire crews were called to the spot, in Balloch, Dunbartonshire, at around 6.45pm after reports that three children in the water were in difficulty.
According to one witness, who asked not to be named, children were seen jumping from a concrete pontoon into the water. A boy and girl managed to get out safely.
The search continued for Ava, who it is feared got caught in the strong currents close to Balloch Bridge. Her body was pulled from the water at about 9.45pm.
The school pupil, from nearby Alexandria, had graduated from Primary 7 and was due to start secondary school this month. Her mother, Leanne Gillies, paid tribute to her daughter yesterday, writing online: ‘My dancing angel queen. I love you so much baby girl I don’t know what I will do without you. You’re now brightest star in sky.’
Dozens of bouquets, along with dancing trophies, were left beside
Balloch Bridge by family and friends. Police officers were also seen patrolling the area.
Mary Begg, headteacher of Lennox Primary, where Ava had been a pupil, said: ‘The school and our whole community are completely devastated by this tragedy and our thoughts are with Ava’s family and friends.
‘Ava always had a smile and kind words to say and was popular with staff and her fellow pupils. She will be greatly missed by us all.’
A West Dunbartonshire Council spokesman, said: ‘We would like to extend our sincere sympathy to Ava’s family and friends at this very difficult time.’
Holly Douglas, Ava’s dance teacher at Full Out Studios in Dumbarton, also paid tribute to the gifted performer, saying: ‘My dancing angel, I am heartbroken.
‘Words can’t describe the way I feel Ava, we all love you so much you will never be forgotten at Full Out. The world is a cruel place.’
A fundraising page was launched by Miss Douglas last night for Ava’s family with almost £4,000 being donated in a few hours. She added on the page: ‘Our gorgeous angel Ava Gray tragically died in a horrible accident in the River Leven in Balloch.
‘We are all absolutely heartbroken and devastated, words cannot even describe our feelings.
‘Ava was the funniest girl at our school and she never failed to make me laugh and smile.
‘I am writing as Ava’s dance teacher that you please, please help to raise some money for Ava’s family at this awful time.’
A Police Scotland statement said last night: ‘Around 6:45pm, officers received a report that three young people had got into difficulty in the River Leven, near Balloch Bridge.
‘Emergency services attended
‘The brightest star in the sky’ ‘She always had a smile’
and a search and rescue operation was launched.
‘Around 9:45pm, the 12-year-oldgirl was recovered from the water and pronounced dead at the scene. There are no suspicious circumstances and a report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.’
The search involved two rescue helicopters, rescue boats and a police underwater search team.
Meanwhile, rescue teams were forced to carry out a series of lifesaving operations on packed beaches as people flocked to the coast to cool off.
Nine people and a dog were rescued by Oban RNLI crews in three separate incidents on Sunday and yesterday. Ardrossan Coastguard
Rescue Team responded to eight emergencies, including swimmers getting into difficulty and people being blown out to sea on inflatables.
The Coastguard south of the Border said that visitors to the beaches ‘went bananas’ during a frantic couple of days that resulted in at least four deaths.
As temperatures soared across the country, emergency services were inundated with calls, responding to 675 incidents in only 48 hours.
Onlookers in Clacton-on-Sea, Essex, watched in horror yesterday as a body was pulled from the sea. The victim, a man in his 60s, was declared dead at the scene just after 10.30am yesterday morning.
Only hours earlier, a woman died after she was believed to have been caught in strong current off the Norfolk coast.
The woman, in her 30s, was seen struggling off the shore of Waxham at around 5:30pm on Sunday before her body was found.
During a manic 24-hour period caused by an influx of visitors to beaches on Sunday, the Coastguard said it rescued 167 people and assisted a further 386.