Girl, 15, dies in 'tragic accident' while playing with friends in River Severn
A town councillor told Sky News she felt "incredibly sorry" for the family and friends of Holli Smallman from Welshpool.
Tuesday 13 August 2024 11:04, UK
A 15-year-old girl has died in a "tragic accident" while playing with her friends in the River Severn.
Dyfed-Powys Police said a body was recovered from the river after a multi-agency search on Friday.
They later confirmed the teenager as Holli Smallman from Welshpool.
The river, which is the longest in Great Britain, is 220 miles long and enters several counties on the England-Wales border.
Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News
Tap hereHolli was a Year 10 pupil at Welshpool High School.
Councillor Alison Davies is a member of Welshpool Town Council and is also a school governor at Welshpool High.
She told Sky News she felt "incredibly sorry" for Holli's family and friends.
"It's just awful for the family, the friends and the wider community," she said.
"A group of young people playing in the river, swimming, as they have done for generations and a tragic accident has taken the life of one girl and had a terrible impact on the lives of so many other people, her family and her friends."
Read more from Sky News:
Another Banksy pops up - but could it be the last?
Girl, 13, died after taking sip of hot chocolate
Be the first to get Breaking News
Install the Sky News app for free
Holli would have been going into Year 11 in September.
"Of course, those young people are going to go back to school and it's going to reverberate for some time," Cllr Davies added.
"Fortunately, the school is a very supportive, kind and strong school and I think that that will help the young people a lot. And the community will support the family as the family need."
Holli's family is being supported by specialist officers and the force said its thoughts remained with them.