A 13-year-old girl was killed in a boating accident while vacationing with her family in Aruba, officials confirmed Saturday.
Cassidy Murray died in the freak accident on Wednesday, according to Patriot Ledger.
Details of the fatal incident are scarce, but school officials at Buckingham Browne and Nichols School in Milton, Massachusetts, a Boston suburb where Murray was in seventh grade, confirmed she died in a boating accident over the weekend.
Her family released a statement and a photo of Cassidy on Friday afternoon.
“It is with broken hearts that we share the news of the tragic death of our daughter Cassidy,” the Murray family wrote.
“Cassidy’s wonderful spirit, genuinely kind heart, bright mind and joyful zest for life will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her.”
Cassidy Murray, 13, died in a freak boating accident on Wednesday while on vacation in Aruba with her family
Cassidy had recently switched to Buckingham Browne & Nichols at the request of her brother on the right, who is in 10th grade at the school
“We thank everyone for their love and support and ask that you give us time and space at this difficult time to mourn together in private.”
According to principal Jennifer Price, Cassidy played hockey and also competed in gymnastics.
She previously attended Pierce Middle School in Milton before joining Buckingham Browne & Nichols at the request of her brother, who is a Year 10 student at the school.
“She wasted no time in creating her own unique brand on the MS campus. Her ever-present smile, infectious laugh, and upbeat personality brought together every group she was a part of,” Price said of Murray.
“Classmates were drawn to her because of her genuine kindness and quiet modesty. Her friends knew from the first week of school that she would be a trustworthy, warm confidant with a great sense of fun and camaraderie,” she added.
“She was just something that made the world a better place,” said neighbor and family friend Ed Keohane.
Cassidy, pictured above with her mother, died in a boating accident on Wednesday while vacationing with her family in Aruba
The 13-year-old Massachusetts native pictured here with her father
A GoFundMe organized on behalf of the Murray family raised over $17,000 from a $20,000 goal as of Sunday morning
“It’s a total shock. It’s like a horror movie screenplay has come to life. That was such a special little girl. She was someone who would hop down the street, play with the dog, and sit on the front steps with her family. You could hear her laughing.”
Keohane’s said his four-year-old son and seven-year-old daughter adored Cassidy, who has babysat on numerous occasions.
“She was the first little girl my four-year-old told me he was getting married,” Keohane said.
“So not just having to absorb yesterday’s news, but actually having to tell our kids that was probably the hardest thing we’ve ever done as a mom and dad.”
Murray was of Irish descent, “which showed off beautifully with a Claddagh ring mug and Celtic cross plate she made in ceramics class”.
The advisers were present at Buckingham Browne & Nichols Middle School on Saturday from 10am to 12pm and will be there on Monday when students and staff return from the school holidays.
A GoFundMe organized on behalf of the Murray family raised over $17,000 from a $20,000 goal as of Sunday morning.