Loved ones of the 16-year-old girl killed by a shark have spoken out following the teen's tragic death in Australia.
On Saturday afternoon (February 4), police in Western Australia revealed that a teenager had died after being mauled by a shark in the Swan River, which is located in the Perth suburb of Fremantle.
Fremantle District Acting Inspector Paul Robinson from the Western Australia Police said at the time that the teenager had been jet skiing with a group of friends, before supposedly jumping into the water in an apparent effort to swim with a pod of dolphins.
Robinson added that shark attacks were incredibly rare in the area, telling the press: "It is unusual for a shark to be that far down the river [...] at this point in time an alert has been put out, a shark warning just to let people know this incident has taken place."
Subsequent reports from witnesses revealed that a man had jumped into the river to help the teen, before pulling her out of the water.
Now, the Daily Mail has reported that the teenager has been named as 16-year-old Stella Berry, a student of Perth's Shenton College and a talented athlete.
Additionally, WA Police have since revealed that Berry suffered substantial injuries to her leg, after it was mauled by what authorities believe was a bull shark.
In a statement from Stella's "devastated" parents, they described their daughter as a "vibrant and happy girl with plans of living in Europe after school".
"She had her skippers ticket and often took her friends out on the river for a day of skurfing," they added.
The statement continued: "She was a caring person and was a dear friend to many, across a variety of schools in the area. She had an infectious laugh which we couldn't help laughing at too when we heard it.
"She was a beautiful and loving big sister and the best daughter we could have hoped for."
Additionally, Stella's younger sister has taken to TikTok to share the following tribute to her sibling: "Thank you for your blessings. She was the best sister I could ever wish for, I would never change a thing about her."
Friends and family have also gathered at the riverside over the weekend, to lay flowers and tributes in honor of the teen.
One of Stella's friends, Teagan McCarthur, told 9 News Perth: "It doesn’t feel real because we were all in contact with her less than 24 hours ago and now she’s not here."
Another friend, Lara Connolly, told the ABC that Stella was the "sweetest and smartest girl" she knew.
"She never did anything wrong to anybody," Connolly added. "She was so kind. She loved art. I'd ride my bike to see her sometimes and I'd see her running."
Michael Morgan, the principal of Shenton College, has not only offered condolences on behalf of the entire school, but ensured that students will be provided with support from psychologists, chaplains, and nurses.
“I understand and respect that people respond to grief and loss in different ways, and that a loss such as this can trigger a broad range of emotional responses that are not always anticipated or evident," Morgan said, per WA Today.
Our thoughts go out to Berry's family, friends, and loved ones at the time.
