'The kindest, most gentle soul' - Tributes pour in for 12-year-old girl who drowned in Tipperary

Tributes have poured in for Freya Tobin who tragically died after getting into difficulty while swimming on Friday evening, 11 July in Newcastle, County Tipperary.

Freya, aged just 12-years-old, sadly passed away at Cork University Hospital on Friday evening after being airlifted to hospital by Rescue helicopter 117.

She had been playing at a popular swimming spot along the River Suir with a group of friends when she and another friend got into difficulty at around 4.20pm.

The community of Newcastle has been devasted by young Freya's death who was due to start secondary school in the coming months after just finishing sixth class at Scoil Mhuire Caisleán Nua a few weeks prior.

Hundreds of tributes have been paid to Freya since her tragic death on Friday evening. Locals as well as people from right across the country have shared their condolences with Freya's family online, along with kind words about the "beautiful and kind" girl she was.

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Among the tributes, Newcastle GAA Club wrote on social media: "Our Club and community are rocked to the core this weekend with the shocking news of the sudden death of 12yr old Freya Tobin following a tragic accident.

"A profound sadness is prevalent in our small village of Newcastle, leaving us all in a state of complete numbness. We extend our sincere sympathy to Freya’s heartbroken family and friends. No words can even begin to represent your grief right now. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam dílis."

Friends, family, past teachers, and neighbours have all shared touching tributes on Freya's RIP.ie notice. One person described Freya as a "fabulous girl, with a bright smile and a bubbly personality." Indeed, many of the tributes have echoed Freya's bright and bubbly character.

A GoFundMe has been created to help the Tobin family cover the costs of young Freya's funeral. So far, over €25,000 has been raised by the fundraiser in a display of overwhelming support from the public.

Kayleigh Tobin, the fundraiser's organiser, wrote: "On the 11th July, our lives drastically changed forever. What should have been another day of summer holidays fun turned into an unimaginable nightmare. In what can only be described as a tragic and utterly devastating event, our beloved Freya drowned in the River Suir while swimming with her dear friend Emily.

"Freya was the kindest, most gentle soul to grace the community of Newcastle. There wasn't a single person who did not know her name, nor whom she wouldn't have said hello to when passing through the village. She touched the hearts of every single person that had the pleasure of knowing her, and you couldn't help but leave her company with a smile on your face. The biggest smile of all being on the face of her biggest admirer, her little brother Grayson."

She continued: "I speak for so many when I say she has made us laugh uncontrollably throughout the years with her sense of humour. You couldn't possibly be a friend to her mother Shannen, auntie Amber, uncle Dylan without being Freya's friend also. Her presence was magnetic and this is shown by just how many friends she has made for herself in our community and beyond. It's safe to say she had all of us wrapped around her finger - but particularly, her nanny Catríona and grandad OJ.

"Her death leaves behind a wave of deep sorrow and regret. The kind that such a small community will never truly recover from. In light of this, we want to come together as a community and help the Tobin family cover the costs of Freya's funeral. I hope we can rally together and give Shannen one less thing to worry about in these horrifically, troubling times."

Freya's funeral details will be announced soon.