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Tributes paid to 12-year-old 'angel' who died in river tragedy

Ava Gray whose body was recovered from the River Leven near Balloch Bridge  - Police Scotland/PA
Ava Gray whose body was recovered from the River Leven near Balloch Bridge - Police Scotland/PA

A 12-year-old girl has died after she got into difficulty in a river near Loch Lomond in a "horrible accident".

Police yesterday named the child as Ava Gray, from Alexandria in West Dunbartonshire.

A frantic search was launched on Sunday evening around Balloch Bridge on the River Leven, involving two helicopters, a police underwater unit and the fire service.

The other two youths, a boy and a girl, managed to get themselves out of the water.

At around 9:45pm on Sunday, the 12-year-old-girl was recovered from the water and pronounced dead at the scene. Police are not treating the death as suspicious.

Friends and family yesterday paid tribute to Ava, who they said was a talented freestyle dancer.

Leanne Rae, her mother, wrote on social media: “My dancing angel queen. I love you so much baby girl. I don’t know what I will do without you. You are now the brightest star in the sky.”

Her dance teacher Holly Douglas described Ava as her "dancing angel" and set up an online crowdfunder in her memory.

She said: "Our gorgeous angel Ava Gray tragically died in a horrible accident in the River Leven in Balloch.

"We are all absolutely heartbroken and devastated, words cannot even describe our feelings.

"Ava was the funniest most crazy girl at our dance school and she never failed to make me laugh and smile.”

The fundraiser had raised more than £6,000 within four hours.