Our Isabelle will never be forgotten

TRAGEDY: Isabelle Colman fell from a balcony on the Gold Coast during Schoolies. Source: Supplied

THE family of Isabelle Colman is taking comfort from the words of friends who say they had never seen the teenager happier than on her last day.

The friends of Isabelle, 17, yesterday visited her grieving family to convey their final memories of a wonderful young woman whose death on the Gold Coast late on Thursday night has devastated the Schoolies festival.

"They wanted to let us know that Isabelle was really happy and they had never seen her so happy," her father Mike Colman told The Courier-Mail on Friday night.

"She was having a great time. She was with her friends. She was really happy."

But Mike says he and his wife Linda, their daughters, 22 and 20, and 12-year-old son will never know the details of Isabelle's final hours.

Police say she was alone when she fell from a balcony on the 26th floor of the Chevron Renaissance about 9.30pm. Paramedics treated Isabelle but she could not be revived.

"We don't know what happened and we probably never will," Mike said.

'MUCH-LOVED': The loss of Isabelle Colman rocked schoolies on the Gold Coast.

"I don't think police will ever know. It's a natural thing to draw conclusions but we probably won't know."

Mike is an assistant editor of The Courier-Mail, a Walkley Award-winning journalist and one of the nation's finest writers and commentators.

But his family is his passion. The care and attention Mike has brought to his journalism have always been outshone by the love he and Linda have had for their four children.

"We're a very close and loving family. And we're not a broken family," Mike said.

"We just want to be close with each other at this time."

The Colmans were supported by family and friends yesterday as the wider school community began taking in the news of Isabelle's death.

Alison Terrey, the principal of Isabelle's former school Mt St Michael's, described a young woman who was popular and loved within the Ashgrove school.

"Isabelle was an enthusiastic and much-loved member of the College community," Ms Terrey said.

"She was a class captain, so she was respected by her peers and by her teachers," Ms Terrey said. "She carried out those responsibilities really well.

"She had a great interest in photography, in drama and the creative arts, and she was hoping to continue her studies in that area.

"It's the worst nightmare that could possibly happen to the family. They've had three girls in the college, this was their youngest daughter. We know them very well, and please keep them in your prayers as well."

Police officers who spent Thursday night and Friday morning with the Colmans were praised for their compassion and professionalism.

Counsellors from the Red Frogs group helped to support grieving friends and fellow schoolies who struggled to comprehend Isabelle's death.

"The police have been absolutely superb right from the first ones who came to see us last night. That has to be the worst job in the world but they did it with great feeling," Mike said.

"And the police officer we saw on the Gold Coast was also outstanding. He was supposed to have had the next two days off but he's stayed around to make sure everything has been OK.

"I'd like to thank everyone who has helped us. We can't say enough of how appreciative we are of the support.

"We have requested privacy and we've very much appreciated that this has been respected."

Assistant police commissioner Graham Rynders said investigations into Isabelle's death would continue and that he would not speculate on the events leading to her death.

"It is inappropriate to discuss the lead up to her tragic death," Mr Rynders said.

"There are still a lot of people we need to talk to."

For help, call Lifeline on 131 114 or Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636.

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