EXCLUSIVEDisturbing twist in tragic death of 12-year-old who was bullied by cruel teens - as revelations emerge of ANOTHER horrific incident at $12k-per-year private school
EXCLUSIVE Shocking claims have emerged that a second teenage girl attempted to take her own life at a prestigious, $12,000-per-year private school in Brisbane.
EXCLUSIVE
Shocking claims have emerged that a second teenage girl attempted to take her own life at a prestigious, $12,000-per-year private school in Brisbane.
Daily Mail Australia revealed this week how 12-year-old Ella Catley-Crawfords life support was turned off last Saturday after she made an attempt on her own life.
Ella was enrolled in Year 7 at Lourdes Hill College after winning an academic scholarship in February - but the bright and quirky students family claim that she suffered months of misery at the hands of other students who allegedly bullied her via Snapchat.
Ellas mother Julie Crawford moved her to a new school in April after just one term - but claims that the bullying then followed her online.
Ellas tragic death comes just three years after a Year 8 student tried to hurt themselves on the private school grounds, it can now be revealed.
Emergency services were called to a serious incident on Monday, June 14, 2021 and a 14-year-old student was rushed to hospital.
It is understood that a police van blocked the entry to the school gates and several students were later seen leaving the with their parents shortly after 8am.
In an update to a community forum, a friend told locals that the student since made a full recovery. She moved schools for obvious reasons and is happy there.
She likes to volunteer at mental health organisations to help the younger kids that are struggling.
The family of Ella Catley-Crawford (pictured) turned off her life support on Saturday after she attempted to take her life a week earlier due to online bullying
Lourdes Hill College in Brisbane has come under fire for their response since Ella died
The school Ella (pictured) attended, Lourdes Hill College, has been accused of failing to help victims of bullying
When asked about the tragedy a spokesperson from Lourdes Hill College told Daily Mail Australia
The Lourdes Hill College community remains deeply affected by the tragic incident in 2021 and our
thoughts and prayers continue to be with all of those affected.
As this an ongoing legal matter, we are unable to provide further comment.
Lourdes Hill Colleges highest priority is the safety and wellbeing of our students and staff, and we have pastoral care in place to support our community.
The development emerged as frustrated locals hit out at the school for its response to Ellas death.
Lourdes Hill College principal Kay Gleeson emailed parents on Tuesday afternoon to advise them of Ellas tragic death and to offer students support from on-campus counsellors.
We understand that the next few weeks will be particularly difficult, and members of the community may have different responses to this tragedy, Ms Gleeson wrote.
However many parents had already found out via social media.
We understand that our community will have many questions about this matter, however, out of respect to those affected, I ask that we avoid any speculation or discussion.
Our students wellbeing remains our highest priority, and we are committed to providing a caring, safe and supportive environment. We have a zero-tolerance policy against bullying, and all students participate in our age-appropriate Stella Wellbeing Program.
Our College values remind us of our strength as a community to support each other during challenging times.
Andrew Laming, the former Federal MP for Redlands, said: The claim they have a program is no defence.
They owe the community answers; but that wont be forthcoming. Just thoughts, prayers and silence...again.
Hyper-vigilant mum Julie Crawford (pictured with Ella) moved her daughter to public school Redlands College after just one term, but the damage had already been done
Three Year Seven girls were suspended from Lourdes Hill College for bullying Ella (pictured) online
Ellas hyper-vigilant mum Julie Crawford, 55, moved her from Lourdes to Redlands College after just one term, but says the damage had already been done.
She was immediately happier, and the new school was great, but the bullies still got to her via the apps, Ms Crawford told Daily Mail Australia.
The 12-year-olds torment came as no surprise to her devoted mum who had given Ella her old phone for Christmas to entertain her on the bus to and from school.
She had banned her from using apps like TikTok and Snapchat, but when Ella started Year Seven, she saw her daughter was glued to her phone screen.
I thought she was just texting her new friends at first, she said. I knew they had a Year Seven group chat, but it was Snapchat.
I made her delete it straight away even though she told me she was being safe.
I dont know how but she made another account and hid it from me.
Despite Ms Crawfords repeated attempts to stamp out Ellas social media use, the bullying quickly escalated and regularly left her daughter in tears.
Then in March Ms Crawford, an HR manager, received a call from the school alleging concerns had been raised that Ella, who was then 11, had been bullying other students online.
I told them I dont think so, that they had it wrong and they investigated it further, she said.
Days later, three Year Seven girls were suspended from Lourdes College for bullying Ella online.
The school never gave Ms Crawford the details of their findings, but the damage was already done, her mum said.
Lourdes Hill College principal Kay Gleeson emailed parents on Tuesday afternoon to advise them of Ellas (pictured) tragic death and offer students support from on-campus counsellors
I dont know exactly what it was all about, she added.
People had pretended to be people they were not, one girl pretended to be a boy and messages Ella sent to them were shared around to others.
Friends started to pull away from her and she was uninvited to a birthday party with some of the kids saying they needed a break, that it was too much, that she was too much.
Ms Crawford moved her bright and quirky, daughter to Redlands College at the end of the first term in April.
But although Ella was instantly happier and making new friends, she couldnt escape the online abuse which followed her.
Ella was so down I took her to the doctors, and she was diagnosed with depression and on medication, her mother told Daily Mail Australia.
But I made sure I was always around and that we had things to do to keep her busy.
Ms Crawford says that when her daughter was distracted with things to look forward to, her best friend and love of her life, was her former happy self.
But as soon as she was left with her phone, things quickly changed.
Some days in the holidays she wouldnt get out of bed, said her mum.
I just hoped it wouldnt get worse but I never expected her to kill herself.
Ms Crawford found her daughter apparently lifeless on Sunday, October 27 and began CPR while waiting for paramedics.
Ella was rushed to Queensland Childrens Hospital in Brisbane and spent a week on life support before doctors confirmed she had no brain activity.
Queensland Police have Ellas phone and iPad and are now investigating her death.
On Monday, Andrew Johnson, principal at Redlands College, sent a text message to parents of Year Seven students with details of a special counselling service.
Students in Ellas year were told of her death on the same day.
The college will not make any formal announcements to other year levels but will invite parents to make the decision about if and when they share this news with their son or daughter, Mr Johnson added.
Ellas heartbroken mum says without her, she has nothing left, so will now dedicate herself to raising awareness in the hope she can help others.
Ellas (pictured with her mother) family has set up a GoFundMe to help pay for the funeral costs, time off work to grieve and to facilitate more awareness
Her family has set up a GoFundMe to help pay for the funeral costs, time off work to grieve and to facilitate more awareness. More than $133,000 has been raised within three days.
Ella mums issued a heartfelt plea to supporters on the online fundraiser on Wednesday, vowing to lobbying the government.
Thank you to all of the wonderful people who took the time and their hard earned money to read our beautiful Ellas story, cut so short. Our hearts are broken and our lives changed for ever, Ms Crawford wrote.
Your kind and generous donations will help us to give Ella a beautiful funeral, medical bills, time to grieve and to also fund education programs about social media and children.
If you can write to Snapchat and get them to change some settings to stop bullies and block them. We plan to rally the government in Australia for this to help save the lives of our children.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Lourdes Hill College for comment.
If you or someone you know needs support, contact Lifeline Australia 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue 1300 22 46 36.
