The family of an Adelaide teenager who died by suicide have issued a desperate plea about the dangers of bullying.
Libby Bell, 13, died on Monday last week after what her family allege was an extended campaign of cyberbullying and physical abuse, stemming from an incident in a fast food restaurant last year.
Standing outside the Moana Surf Life Saving Club, where Libby had been a member since 2013, her uncle Clint Gow-Smith paid tribute to his niece.
“She had a million-dollar smile, her face lit up the room, she just had a beautiful smile — that was our Libster,” he said.
“We understand schoolyard behaviour and what starts off as pointless teasing and ridicule soon escalates into something far more serious. So please, as a parent, hold your babies tight and for the teenagers, we plead for you kids to talk and walk tall.”
He also told Adelaide Now that it was “really important” that kids realise it’s “cool to speak up [or] branch out to someone”.
Friends and family have paid tribute to Libby online, and a shrine has been set up outside the surf life saving club.
“We are grieving the sudden and devastating loss of Libby,” said Surf Life Saving SA chief executive Clare Harris.
“Staff and volunteers … stand with her family, friends and our members as we pull together to support each other.”
Rest in Peace Libby Bell 🌹💞
🙌 28-8-17 🙌 pic.twitter.com/S7YA56YdH3
— Pxblo 🇦🇺 (@Pxblos) August 28, 2017
If you or someone you know is experiencing bullying, contact the Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800. If you are in distress, please call Lifeline on 13 11 13.
