Brisbane Teen Isabelle Colman Falls to Death from High Rise Balcony in Surfers Paradise, Schoolies in Shock
A 17-year-old girl from Brisbane died Thursday night after falling from a high rise balcony, shocking witnesses in Surfers Paradise, where the annual Schoolies gathering is being held.
Isabelle Colman, the fatality, was among the school-leavers. She was checked-in on the 26th floor of the Chevron Renaissance apartment tower with a friend. But police said she was alone when she fell to her death.
Colman fell off a balcony on Tower Three of the Chevron Renaissance complex in Surfers Paradise. Police said foul play does not seem to play a part in the death, but no further comment is made.
Colman's family has been informed Friday morning, the AAP reported. They were deeply traumatised by the tragic news.
Speaking to The Courier-Mail, another school-leaver from Brisbane who saw Colman fall said the sight was "just really shocking."
"It's just horrrific - everyone was just sitting here shaking," said another young girl.
Zara Simon also spoke to The Courier Mail and confirmed a young male friend also saw the deadly fall.
"He's pretty shaken up - he's not very good at all," Simon said, adding that she was leaving Schoolies early.
"Everyone's devastated, everyone wants to go home - it's terrible, absolutely terrible," she said.
Photos of the tragic scene are available here.
Inspector Pat Swindells of the Gold Coast Police called for witnesses to come forward and help authorities with information relevant to the tragedy.
"We have no further information at this stage. We're trying to ascertain what's happened," Swindells said, noting the Schoolies event had been successful until the tragedy.
"This week of Schoolies has been a fantastic week. The young people who have been coming to Surfers Paradise have been exemplary in their behavior," he said.
Schoolie witness Seb Giorgio spoke to ABC, saying he saw the girl fell to the pool area of the hotel.
Gold Coast Schoolies Advisory Committee Chair Mark Reaburn said Schoolies organisers are devastated by the tragedy.
"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.
Premier Campbell Newman has issued a statement over the tragedy.
"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.
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