MEXBOROUGH TRAGEDY: 10 high school just found dead in a fatal crash community mourns…
Students at a South Yorkshire school have been “devastated” by the deaths of five “wonderful” teenagers killed in a car crash.
Danum Academy students Arpad Kore, 18, Jordanna Goodwin, 16 and Megan Storey, 16, and ex-pupil Bartosz Bortniczak, 18, all died in the two-car collision at Conisbrough, on Saturday.
Blake Cairns, 16, the brother of Leeds United player Alex, also died.
A special assembly was held at the school earlier in their memory.
Sixth-former Kate Speakman said: “It is just really overwhelming. I just can’t believe it.
“It’s just really difficult to say goodbye to them, so quickly.”
She described school prom queen Jordanna as “amazing and talented”.
Another sixth-former, Lucy Turton, said: “It’s just so hard on everyone, even those who didn’t know them that well. Everyone’s just devastated.”
Blake, whose brother Alex is a goalkeeper at Leeds United, was described as very sporty, a member of the school football team and “a cheeky boy who had great relationships with staff”.
The club posted a message on social media stating its “thoughts were with Alex Cairns and his family”.
It said: “Sending strength and love from the LUFC family. A tragedy for all.”
Arpad Kore was a “true gentleman who looked out for everybody” and who had “a tremendous sense of humour”, the school said.
Megan Storey was described as a “very caring, mature young woman who was a joy to be with”, while Bartek Bortniczak was “a fun-loving young man, with a lovely character and a real sense of fun”.
Head teacher Rebecca Staples said the school was trying to cope “step by very small steps”.
“We can’t plan for the future, we can only plan for tomorrow,” she said.
“And we will do it one step at a time as we go through this together.”
‘Find ways to grieve’
A condolence book has been opened at the school, and counsellors are on site to support students.
Ms Staples said: “This is a very close-knit community and people are supporting each other, caring for each other and that’s right across staff and students and parents.”
“Whether it’s staff or students, the pain is going to be colossal and nobody’s going to understand why this happened to these wonderful young people.
“But, we have to find some words to help people through this and I think that’s why it’s so important we have counsellors here to support people as they begin to find ways to grieve
