A schoolgirl revealed the heartwrenching reason why she took her own life in a harrowing letter.
Charlotte, a 12-year-old girl from Sydney, Australia tragically passed away earlier this month, as reported by News.com.au.
The young girl's family issued a statement to 2GB host Ben Fordham, revealing that their loved one was a victim of relentless school bullying.
"Hi Ben, earlier this week our family experienced a day that will haunt us for the rest of our lives,' the statement read, per the outlet. "We lost our baby girl in the most awful of circumstances. She was just 12 years old."
The grieving family said that words can't describe "what it's like" for them to lose Charlotte, who was a year 7 student at Santa Sabina College at Strathfield.
"It will never be the same again," the letter continued. "Charlotte has left such a big hole in our lives, and she's so deeply, deeply missed. The reports you have received are correct. My daughter was bullied by girls that still attend the school today."
The radio host warned listeners the contents of Charlotte's final goodbye letter were “deeply upsetting," before continuing. "She wrote a goodbye note specifically mentioning the bullying she received at the school. She said life was too difficult for her to continue."
“When the most recent case of bullying was raised, the school simply said it was investigated and the girls denied it. That’s it. Case closed. Move on," the family claimed. “Well my beautiful daughter’s life won’t move on and I’ll never get to say goodbye."
The family declared that they won't let the late student's memory "be swept under the carpet either," before questioning: “How many more children need to lose their lives before they get it? How many parents need to feel the pain of never being able to pick up their child from school again before they get it?"
“We’re broken forever," they concluded.
The radio host said that another relative had informed him that for two years they had complained about Charlotte being taunted at school.
They said that "one particular day the school called mom to arrange for Charlotte to be picked up because Charlotte had been crying in the toilets".
"She told the girl who found her 'I don't want to be here'. She told her mom 'My body fills with pain until my heart explodes,'" Fordham said. According to her loved ones, Charlotte was in therapy and being medicated for depression afterward.
Charlotte also sent alarming final messages to a friend she made outside of the school she attended in Strathfield.
Fordham interviewed the father of that friend, and he revealed that on the night Charlotte took her life, she texted his daughter a picture of herself crying with the caption: "I am sorry."
The friend then sent a series of pleading replies which read: "Charlotte you are scaring me," "Charlotte? Charlotte? Answer," and "I want to know you are alright." Her final reply was "Charlotte, please, I am here for you."
Santa Sabina College's principal expressed gratitude to everybody for the "outpouring of love and support" for Charlotte in a tribute message, per News.com.au.
The college also sent a statement to Daily Mail Australia addressing the bullying claims, stating that it was "not consistent with our records."
"In the outpouring of grief as everyone rightly questions how this could have happened, the College asks the media to take immense care in reporting so that further issues are not created for other vulnerable young people in our community and beyond," they continued.
"The main priority of the College at the moment is to support and care for our students, their families, and our staff as well as support for this grieving family," the college added.
The school said it was continuing to work with counselors, Headspace, and other experts to provide the fullest support to the students.
However, it noted that "mental health experts" criticized the media for "offering nothing positive for their grieving family or community" and creating "further vulnerabilities for young people... who are at risk because of what they hear and read".
"While the College supports the idea of raising awareness of mental health challenges, we have to take into account that children are involved and this situation needs to be carefully navigated," the statement concluded.
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or visit 988lifeline.org.
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