An Adelaide teenager has tragically taken her own life after allegedly being bullied at school and abused online.
Libby Bell’s devastated family paid tribute to the 13-year-old who was a surf lifesaving champion for Moana Surf Life Saving Club.
“She had a million-dollar smile, her face lit up the room, she just had a beautiful smile — that was our Libster,” Libby’s uncle Clint Gow-Smith, 39, told Adelaide Now.
Source: Facebook
Mr Gow-Smith also urged parents to talk to their kids about their problems:
“We understand schoolyard behaviour and what starts off as pointless teasing and ridicule which can soon escalate. So please, as a parent, hold your babies tight and for the teenagers, we plead for you kids to talk and walk tall.”
Staff at Moana Surf Life Saving also paid tribute to the 13-year-old and said they’re grieving the “sudden and devastating loss of Libby”.
Source: Facebook
Her family say she was a victim of an incident at a fast food restaurant last year where she was filmed being bullied. Libby was a Year 8 student at Seaford Secondary School in Adelaide.
A GoFundMe page has been set up to help the family financially through this devastating time. At time of publishing, people have donated close to $20,000.
Our deepest condolences to Libby’s family and friends.
If you or anyone you know is suffering, contact Lifeline (lifeline.org.au) on 1311 14 or visit Headspace at (headspace.org.au). Visit Beyond Blue at (beyondblue.org.au) or call 1300 22 4636. You can also contact the Kids Help Line on 1800 55 1800.
