Cassidy Murray Milton Mass girl and 7th grader at Buckingham Browne killed in freak boating accident while vacationing with family in Aruba during spring break.
A 13-year-old Boston girl was killed in a ‘freak’ boating accident while vacationing with her family in Aruba, officials confirmed over the weekend.
Cassidy Murray – who attended Buckingham Browne and Nichols School – died on Wednesday, according to the Patriot Ledger.
The circumstances leading up to the Milton, Massachusetts teen girl’s death to date have not been publicly divulged.
Cassidy’s family released a statement on Friday afternoon confirming their daughter’s death with school officials.
‘It is with broken hearts that we share the news of the tragic passing of our daughter, Cassidy,’ said the Murray family.
Devastating loss
‘Cassidy’s beautiful spirit, genuinely kind heart, bright mind and joyful zest for life will be profoundly missed by all who knew and loved her.’
‘We thank everyone for their love and support and we ask that you please give us the time and space to grieve together privately during this difficult time.’
The 7th grader played hockey and also competed in gymnastics, according to Head of School, Jennifer Price, while adding the school was ‘devastated.’
She had previously attended Milton’s Pierce Middle School before transferring to Buckingham Browne & Nichols at the request of her brother, who is a 10th-grade student at the school.
‘She wasted no time creating her own unique mark on the MS campus. Her ever-present smile, infectious laugh, and upbeat personality knit together any group she was a part of,’ Price said of Murray.
‘Classmates gravitated to her because of her genuine kindness and quiet modesty. Her friends knew from the very first week of school that she would be a trusted, 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.
Much beloved 7th grader
‘It’s a total shock. It’s kind of like a horror movie screen play has come to life. This was such a special little girl. She was someone that bounded down the street, played with the dog, would sit out on the front steps with her family. You could hear her laugh.’
Keohane’s said his four-year-old son and seven-year-old daughter adored Cassidy, who worked as their babysitter on numerous occasions.
‘She was the first little girl my four-year-old told me that he was going to marry,’ Keohane said.
‘So, to have to not only absorb the news yesterday but actually tell our kids that was probably the hardest thing that we’ve ever done as a mom and a dad.’
Murray was of Irish heritage, ‘which was displayed beautifully with a Claddagh-ring mug and Celtic-cross plate that she made in ceramics class.’
Counselors were on hand Saturday at Buckingham Browne & Nichols School Middle School from 10 am to noon and will be on Monday when students and staff return from school vacation according to WCVB.
A GoFundMe organized on the Murray family’s behalf has garnered over $22K Sunday afternoon.
