EXCLUSIVEThe final touching act of tragic schoolgirl Ella Catley-Crawford, 12, is revealed - after she took her own life when she was targeted by Snapchat bullies at elite private girls school
EXCLUSIVETormented schoolgirl Ella Catley-Crawford, 12, has donated her vital organs to save others after evil online bullies drove her to her death.
EXCLUSIVE
Tormented schoolgirl Ella Catley-Crawford, 12, has donated her vital organs to save others after evil online bullies drove her to her death.
Her heartbroken mum Julie Crawford, 55, from Manly in Brisbane, made the agonising decision to switch off her daughters life support on Saturday.
Ella had been in a coma since attempting suicide six days earlier when Ms Crawford found her daughters apparently lifeless body.
The tragedy came after months of relentless bullying on Snapchat following a heartless catfishing incident when she joined a new elite private girls school.
But in the wake of her death, Ellas kidneys and liver have all now been matched with recipients though Donate Life, to give new hope to others.
Ms Crawford authorised the organ donations, which also included her heart tissue, after a conversation she had with her daughter years prior.
Its actually something I talked about with Ella, she told Daily Mail Australia on Tuesday.
Tormented schoolgirl Ella Catley-Crawford, 12, (pictured with her mother, Julie) has donated her vital organs to save others after evil online bullies drove her to her death
When I was filling out my own forms to be a donor, she asked me about it and she understood and agreed with what it meant to do that for others.
The family hope their actions will be a testament to her compassionate spirit.
Ellas torment began when she won an academic scholarship to a prestigious girls school in Brisbane, which she joined in February but her family has asked not to be identified.
She was both excited and nervous about going to high school because she didnt know anyone there, Ms Crawford told Daily Mail Australia.
At first she seemed to be making new friends and enjoying her new school, but after just a few weeks I noticed that she was on her phone a lot more.
It was never out of her hand.
Ms Crawford had given Ella her old phone for Christmas to entertain her on the bus to and from school, but banned her from using apps like Tiktok and Snapchat.
Talented Ella Catley-Crawford won an academic scholarship for high school
But she quickly saw her daughter was glued to its tiny 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 it out, 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 for bullying Ella online.
Julie Crawford regularly found Ella in tears about messages she was receiving, but the worried mum couldnt see them because of the apps automatic message deletion
Julie Crawford, 55, says she knew her only child was suffering but was powerless to stop it, despite trying everything she could to protect her daughter
The school never gave Ms Crawford the details of their findings, but the damage was already done, her mum said.
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.
By the end of the first term in April, Ms Crawford decided shed had enough and moved her bright and quirky, daughter to another school.
But although Ella was instantly happier and making new friends, she couldnt escape the online abuse which followed her.
The new school was great but the bullies still got to her via the apps, said the mum.
Ella was so down I took her to the doctors and she was diagnosed with depression and on medication.
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.
Julie Crawford found Ella apparently lifeless on Sunday October 27 and began resuscitation while waiting for paramedics
Ella was on life support for a week before she lost her fight on Sunday
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 seized Ellas phone and iPad and are now investigating her death.
Her shattered mum has been left heartbroken and says without Ella she has nothing left, so will now dedicate herself to raising awareness in the hope she can help others.
She has set up a GoFundMe to help pay for the funeral costs, time off work to grieve and to facilitate more awareness.
Social media bullying is real, the fundraising appeal adds.
If you ask if we are angry—yes, we are. If you ask if we are sad—absolutely. And if you ask if the system let her down—it did.
This catastrophic reality has changed our familys history forever.
Social media and online presence pose real dangers, and despite our efforts to keep our children safe, technology can become an addictive lifeline, especially when they feel isolated.
If you or someone you know needs support, contact Lifeline Australia 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue 1300 22 46 36.
