Victorian teen Charlie Scott has been remembered by friends as a “kind-hearted guy”, the day after he tragically fell to his death from the balcony of a Gold Coast hotel during schoolies week.
The 18-year-old, from Montmorency, fell from a balcony at the Hilton at around 2.30am on Friday. A representative for the hotel confirmed the news in a statement, saying:
“It is with deep regret that we confirm a guest at the private residences located at Hilton Surfers Paradise has passed away. We offer our sincere condolences to the family and loved ones at this difficult time.”
The Hilton is one of the most popular destinations for schoolies on the Gold Coast, and counselors have been made available for the hundreds of teens who are staying there.
Journalist Melissa Hoyer shared a photo of the teen, saying:
“My son informed me he was outside the Hilton & could hear the tremendous bang & screaming when fellow Schoolies-goer, Charlie Scott, fell to his death. So incredibly tragic. He didn’t know him. But he’s really rattled & said it is ‘intense’.”
My son informed me he was outside the Hilton & could hear the tremendous bang & screaming when fellow Schoolies-goer, Charlie Scott, fell to his death. So incredibly tragic.
He didn’t know him. But he’s really rattled & said it is ‘intense’. https://t.co/ILLCy0r4GF😔 #schoolies pic.twitter.com/KxkYtXBHzM— Melissa Hoyer (@melissahoyer) November 29, 2019
Tributes have poured in on social media in the wake of his death, with one friend writing:
“RIP Charlie Scott. One of the best blokes you will ever meet. Kind, hardworking, always smiling. You will be missed brother.”
Another wrote that the teen was a “sweet, kind-hearted guy, taken away way too soon, you will be dearly missed.”
A fellow schoolie organised a minute’s silence on Cavill Ave, the main street of Surfers Paradise, in order to pay respects, saying that she and many others were “traumatised” by the event.
