EXCLUSIVE
Shocking claims have emerged that a second teenager attempted to take her own life at a prestigious $12,000-a-year private school in Brisbane.
Daily Mail Australia revealed this week how 12-year-old Ella Catley-Crawford’s life support was switched off last Saturday after she made an attempt on her own life.
She was enrolled in Year 7 at Lourdes Hill College after winning an academic scholarship in February, but the The family of the “brilliant and quirky” student claims she suffered months of misery at the hands of other students who allegedly harassed her via snapchat.
Ella’s mother, Julie Crawford, moved her to a new school in April after just one semester, but claims the bullying then “followed” her online.
Ella’s tragic death comes just three years after a Year 8 student tried to hurt himself on the grounds of the private school, it can now be revealed.
Emergency services were called to a “serious incident” on Monday 14 June 2021 and a 14-year-old student was rushed to hospital.
It is understood that a police van blocked the entrance to the school gates and several students were later seen leaving with their parents shortly after 8am.
In a community forum update, a friend told locals that the student has since “made a full recovery.” ‘He moved schools for obvious reasons and is happy there.
“She enjoys volunteering with mental health organizations to help younger children who are struggling.”
The family of Ella Catley-Crawford (pictured) switched off her life support on Saturday after she attempted to take her own life a week earlier due to online harassment.
Lourdes Hill College in Brisbane has been criticized for its response since Ella’s death
The school Ella (pictured) attended, Lourdes Hill College, has been accused of failing to help victims of bullying.
When asked about the tragedy, a Lourdes Hill College spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia
‘The Lourdes Hill College community remains deeply affected by the tragic incident of 2021 and our
Thoughts and prayers continue to be with all those affected.
As this is an ongoing legal matter, we are unable to provide further comment.
Lourdes Hill College’s top priority is the safety and wellbeing of our students and staff, and we have pastoral care in place to support our community.’
The development emerged as frustrated locals criticized the school for its response to Ella’s death.
Lourdes Hill College Principal Kay Gleeson emailed parents Tuesday afternoon to inform them of Ella’s tragic death and offer students support from campus counselors.
“We understand that the coming weeks will be particularly difficult and that community members may have different responses to this tragedy,” Ms. Gleeson wrote.
However, many parents had already found out through social networks.
‘We understand that our community will have many questions regarding this matter, however, out of respect for those affected, I ask that we avoid any speculation or discussion.
‘The well-being of our students remains our top priority and we are committed to providing a caring, safe and supportive environment. We have a zero-tolerance anti-bullying policy and all students participate in our age-appropriate Stella Wellness Program.
“Our university’s values remind us of our strength as a community to support each other in difficult times.”
Andrew Laming, former federal MP for Redlands, said: ‘The claim that they have a ‘programme’ is not a defence.
‘They owe answers to the community; but that won’t happen. Just thoughts, prayers and silence…again.’
‘Hypervigilant’ mum Julie Crawford (pictured with Ella) moved her daughter to Redlands College public school after just one term – but the damage had already been done
Three Year Seven girls suspended from Lourdes Hill College for bullying Ella (pictured) online
Ella’s “hypervigilant” mother Julie Crawford, 55, moved her from Lourdes to Redlands College after just one term, but says the damage had already been done.
“She was immediately happier and the new school was fantastic, but bullies were still targeting her through the apps,” Ms Crawford told Daily Mail Australia.
The 12-year-old girl’s torment did not surprise her devoted mother, who He had given Ella his old phone for Christmas to entertain her on the bus to and from school.
I had banned him from using apps like tiktok and Snapchat, bBut when Ella started seventh grade, she saw that her daughter was glued to her phone screen.
“At first I thought he was just texting his new friends,” she said. ‘I knew they had a Year Seven group chat, but it was Snapchat.
‘I made her delete it immediately even though she told me she was being safe.
“I don’t know how, but she made another account and hid it from me.”
Despite Ms Crawford’s repeated attempts to end Ella’s use of social media, the harassment escalated quickly and regularly left her daughter in tears.
Then in March, Ms Crawford, a human resources manager, received a call from the school claiming concerns had been raised that Ella, then 11, had been bullying other students online.
“I told them ‘I don’t think so’, that they were wrong and they investigated it further,” he said.
Days later, three Year Seven girls were suspended from Lourdes College for bullying Ella online.
The school never gave Crawford the details of its findings, but the damage had been done, his mother said.
Lourdes Hill College Principal Kay Gleeson emailed parents Tuesday afternoon to inform them of Ella’s tragic death (pictured) and offer students support from campus counselors.
“I don’t know exactly what it was about,” he added.
‘People had posed as people they were not, a girl posed as a boy and the messages Ella sent them were shared with others.
“Her friends started pulling away from her and not inviting her to a birthday party and some of the kids said they needed a break, that it was too much, that she was too much.”
Mrs Crawford moved her “bright and quirky” daughter to Redlands College at the end of term one in April.
But although Ella felt instantly happier and made new friends, she couldn’t escape the online abuse that followed.
“She was so depressed I took her to the doctor and she was diagnosed with depression and was on medication,” her mother told Daily Mail Australia.
“But I made sure I was always around and that we had things to do to keep her busy.”
Crawford says that when her daughter became distracted by things she was looking forward to, her “best friend and love of her life” would return to her happy self.
But as soon as he was left with his phone, things changed quickly.
“Some days during the holidays he wouldn’t get out of bed,” his mother said.
“I just hoped it wouldn’t get worse, but I never expected her to commit suicide.”
Ms Crawford found her daughter apparently lifeless on Sunday, October 27, and began CPR while waiting for paramedics.
She was rushed to Queensland Children’s Hospital in Brisbane and spent a week on life support before doctors confirmed she had no brain activity.
Queensland Police have Ella’s phone and iPad and are now investigating her death.
On Monday, Andrew Johnson, principal of Redlands College, texted parents of Year Seven students with details of a special counseling service.
Students in Ella’s year were informed of her death on the same day.
“The university will not be making any formal announcements for other year levels, but will invite parents to make the decision about whether and when they will share this news with their son or daughter,” Mr Johnson added.
Ella’s heartbroken mother says that without her she has nothing left, so she will now dedicate herself to raising awareness in the hope of helping others.
Ella’s family (pictured with her mother) has created a GoFundMe to help pay for funeral costs, time off work to grieve, and facilitate greater awareness.
His family has created a GoFundMe to help pay for funeral costs, time off work to grieve and facilitate greater awareness. More than $133,000 has been raised in three days.
Ella’s mother made a heartfelt plea to her supporters at the online fundraiser on Wednesday, vowing to put pressure on the government.
‘Thank you to all the wonderful people who took the time and hard-earned money to read Ella’s beautiful, short story. “Our hearts are broken and our lives have been changed forever,” Mrs. Crawford wrote.
‘Your kind and generous donations will help us provide Ella with a beautiful funeral, medical bills, time to grieve and also fund educational programs about social media and children.
‘If you can, write to Snapchat and get them to change some settings to stop harassers and block them. We plan to mobilize the Australian government to help save the lives of our children.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Lourdes Hill College for comment.
If you or someone you know needs help, please contact Lifeline Australia 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue 1300 22 46 36.