What could have been a merry observance to mark the end-of-school celebrations in Fiji has resulted to the tragic death of a 17-year-old lad from Queensland, Australia.

Harrison Kadell, a vice captain of St Thomas More College, a private Catholic college at Sunnybank, in Brisbane, died while on a holiday with other schoolies. Witness accounts said the teenager may have probably died from an underwater hold-your-breath dare game in a pool at the Plantation Island resort.

Rescuers who responded to the scene were unable to resuscitate him, a Fiji police spokesman told AAP.

"All I know is that he went into the pool and didn't come out," he told AAP.

Harrison was found dead 4 a.m. local time on Tuesday.

"From a school perspective, the community is shocked," John Phelan, Brisbane Catholic Education spokesman, told AAP. "He was a good role model and an outstanding young man."

Around 500 schoolies were said to be staying on the island, according to the Fiji police spokesman. They were reported to be stating nightly parties between 7 p.m. and 5 a.m.

"An outstanding student and outstanding athlete," Harrison was likewise a talented performer and budding actor. He was actually represented by NHM Queensland, an actors' management agency.

Harrison's family is heavily involved in St Thomas More College, according to principal Peter Elmore. His mother is current school board chair while his older sister was a former school captain.

It was the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs that notified Harrison's parents of his tragic and untimely death early Tuesday morning.