Girl, 15, dies after falling into river whereas taking part in with buddies
The heartbroken family of a 15-year-old girl who drowned after falling into a river while playing with her friends have warned about water dangers in the summer heatwave.
Holli Smallman was playing on the banks in the River Seven when a group of teenagers went in during the recent warm weather – and vanished under the water.
She was in the 220-mile long River Severn at Welshpool, mid-Wales, when she went missing last Friday and her body was found three hours later.
Her family paid tribute to ‘loving and caring’ Holli who they said lived a life ‘full of song and dancing’ and warned of the dangers of entering the water.
Holli’s family said: ‘We are so heartbroken and would never want any other family to go through the pain that we are going through.
‘The dangers of water have been brought home in a way that no one can imagine and we plead with children and parents to take the utmost care when near open water.’
Holli Smallman was playing on the banks in the River Seven when a group of teenagers went in during the recent warm weather – and vanished under the water
was in the 220-mile long River Severn (pictured) at Welshpool, mid-Wales, when she went missing last Friday and her body was found three hours later
They said: ‘We wish to express how heartbroken we are by the tragic passing of our loving and caring girl Holli. The overwhelming grief and heartache devastates us all.’
Her loved ones said she was a ‘beloved sister, daughter, and granddaughter’ as well as a ‘popular pupil at Welshpool High School’ and the local army cadets.
They added: ‘Holli was fun-loving and lived a life full of song and dancing, had an infectious joy for life and her positive and lovable cheeky nature made an impact on everyone she ever met.
‘She had her whole life ahead of her and there will be a hole in our lives that will never heal, and we will never forget the amazing person that Holli was.
‘She loved her family, and she loved her friends and showed that every day.
‘We are all so overwhelmed by the outpouring of support and kindness shown to us as a family and we thank you all for the messages and gestures made to us from everyone in the community. We have seen your messages which have meant so much to us.
‘We also have in our hearts and minds the friends who were with Holli that tragic day. The support and compassion shown to us from the community, we extend to them in this unimaginable time, and they are all in our thoughts.’
‘We also want to express our heartfelt thank you to all of the emergency services and rescue teams who did all they could to help Holli on that evening and the NHS staff at Telford who have been so supportive.’
Holli’s family said she was a ‘beloved sister, daughter, and granddaughter’ as well as a ‘popular pupil at Welshpool High School’ and the local army cadets
Floral tributes have been left on a bridge near the scene, in the Leighton Road area of Welshpool.
Dyfed-Powys Police confirmed the teenager recovered was Holli Smallman from Welshpool after a multi-agency search.
A spokesperson said: ‘Specialist officers are supporting the family and our thoughts remain with them at this difficult time.’
Town councillor Alison Davies, who is also a governor at Welshpool High School, said: ‘On behalf of all the governors, we’re very, very saddened by this news.
‘It’s tragic. I say that as mother and grandmother. The loss of a child is always tragic, but this was a very sad accident when a group of teens were playing in a river.
‘People have known her and her family for a long time. Things will never be the same to those whom she was close.
‘In small communities like this it really does hit a bit harder because everybody is probably closer.’
