Parents of 15-year-old girl who died in Welshpool river pay tribute to 'loving and caring girl'

Holli Smallman, aged 15, died on Friday, August 9. Her body was recovered from the River Severn after a multi-agency search following reports she went missing around 4.40pm.

Dyfed Powys Police confirmed her identity on Monday.

In a tribute, her family have said Holli's death “devastates us all”.

In a statement the family said: “We wish to express how heart-broken we are by the tragic passing of our loving and caring girl Holli. The overwhelming grief and heartache devastates us all.

“Holli was a beloved sister, daughter, granddaughter and was so well-loved by all of her family, extended family and friends. Holli was fun-loving and lived a life full of song and dancing, had an infectious joy for life and her positive and lovable cheeky nature made an impact on everyone she ever met.

“Holli was a popular pupil at Welshpool High School and especially enjoyed art and being creative. Holli formed a very strong bond with her group of friends and spent her time with them in or out of school. Holli had a talent, flair and passion for makeup and beauty and planned to train in that field after leaving school.

“Holli was also a popular member of the Welshpool Army Cadets, having joined last year with her friendship group, and took to it well. Holli learned new life skills and she was maturing into a beautiful young and rounded person and was extremely supportive and caring to her siblings and family who meant the world to her.

“Holli has been taken from us at far too young an age. She had her whole life ahead of her and there will be a hole in our lives that will never heal, and we will never forget the amazing person that Holli was. She loved her family, and she loved her friends and showed that every day.

“We are all so overwhelmed by the outpouring of support and kindness shown to us as a family and we thank you all for the messages and gestures made to us from everyone in the community. We have seen your messages which have meant so much to us.

“We also have in our hearts and minds the friends who were with Holli that tragic day. The support and compassion shown to us from the community, we extend to them in this unimaginable time, and they are all in our thoughts.

“We also want to express our heartfelt thank you to all of the emergency services and rescue teams who did all they could to help Holli on that evening and the NHS staff at Telford who have been so supportive.

“We are so heartbroken and would never want any other family to go through the pain that we are going through. The dangers of water have been brought home in a way that no one can imagine and we plead with children and parents to take the upmost care when near open water.

“We respectfully ask as a family for time and privacy as we come to deal with the loss of our dear and beautiful Holli.”