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Amir Ammari, 16, died yesterday when he fell from a tree at Kellys Falls and hit his head on a submerged rock.
FAMILY and friends are paying tribute to Amir Ammari, the 16-year-old boy who died after falling 15m and striking his head on a submerged rock at a popular swimming hole in Sydney’s south.
Amir was swimming with a group of friends at Kellys Falls, in Helensburgh yesterday, when Amir fell up to 15m while climbing a tree after a branch snapped.
Amir Ammari, 16, died after a tragic swimming hole accident. Picture: Channel 9Source:Channel 9
Friends have paid tribute to Amir Ammari, after his tragic death. Picture: Channel 7Source:Channel 7
When he fell into the water, he struck his head a submerged rock, knocking him unconscious.
“He has gone out on the branch itself, which is hanging over the water ... and it snapped so he has plummeted about 10-15 metres,” Detective Inspector Brad Ainsworth said.
A floral tribute to Amir at Robert Townson High School in Campbelltown. Picture: FacebookSource:Facebook
His three friends dragged him from the water and called for help.
Amir was winched out by helicopter and flown to Royal North Shore Hospital in a critical condition but died about 8.30pm last night, police said.
Police Rescue Illawarra at Kellys Falls after teenager fell and struck his head on a rock.Source:Facebook
Amir’s brother Firas spoke about his family’s loss.
“He’s a good kid, he always did silly things but they weren’t that bad,” Firas told Channel 7.
“This is so tragic for me because he’s my brother, but the fact that they (his friends) saw it happen and they are his closest friends ... really feel bad for them.”
Amir Ammari and his brother Firas, who paid tribute to the teen. Picture: Channel 7Source:Channel 7
Amir was a student at Robert Townson High School in Campbelltown, which released a statement this afternoon.
“Our thoughts are with the student’s family and friends at such a difficult time,” the school said.
“Counselling has been provided to students and staff and will continue to be available as necessary.”
Images posted on social media today show students releasing pink and purple balloons at the school, and gathering hand-in-hand near a makeshift memorial of photographs and flowers.
“Together we stand as one. We unite as one. We pray that God takes care of our beautiful angel who was taken away from us on the 22/02/2017. Today you fly high. We love you Amir Ammari,” student Mariman Jawar said in a Facebook post.
The tragic accident happened at Kellys Falls.Source:Supplied
Friend Leilani Rapana said: “It’s just a sad thing that the homeboy was chosen! Rest easy.”
“Man you had a lot to live for bro,” Monty Paea added.
Family members remembered a boy who had a “laugh that made everyone around you laugh”.
One cousin made a heartbreaking tribute to the teenager.
“It’s almost impossible to find words that would describe how I received the news, it was as if the world lost its joy, but how can that make sense when joy was all you made us feel,” Bayan R. Abu Sultan wrote.
Amir (right) in his last picture posted to Facebook with the caption “Born to die may as well live”.Source:Facebook
“Whenever someone mentions you I can only think about your laughter, and how super ticklish you were, that laugh that made everyone around you laugh no matter what, I grief you by honouring the great times we had together,” she wrote.
“You will forever live in our hearts, and may your soul finds comfort wherever it is, for that you deserve nothing less than everlasting joy.
A paramedic who injured his leg and ankle after slipping down a ravine as he came to the boy’s aid was flown to St George Hospital for treatment.
Originally published as Teen hit head on rock in waterhole tragedy