Richard Fitzsimons, 16, is believed to be the British teenage schoolboy who died after jumping from the roof of a department store in a suspected suicide pact
The British teenager who died after leaping from the top floor of a department store in a suspected suicide pact has been pictured for the first time.
Named locally as Richard Fitzsimons, the 16-year-old died after a 65ft fall from the roof of the El Corte Ingles department store in Puerto Banus on the Costa del Sol, Spain.
However, his 14-year-old British girlfriend was rescued by a security guard after her Instagram post tipped off friends about their apparent suicide pact.
The schoolgirl earlier wrote on Instagram: ‘It’s a dirty world that I don’t want to live in anymore.’
Moments after Richard plunged to his death, his girlfriend was saved after she apparently hesitated.
A security guard spotted the tragic couple on the roof through store cameras before a colleague then risked his life to wrestle the girl to the ground before she could follow her boyfriend.
According to the Mail on Sunday, she wrote on her Instagram account earlier: ‘To anyone who has ever loved/known or supported me, thank you, I love you and I will miss you.’
Richard attended Aloha College private school and it is thought that a mother of a child at the school informed department store staff of what they were planning.
The couple reportedly told friends and family that they planned to go shopping at the store that day before Richard fell to his death at 11.42am on Friday.
Heartbreaking tributes have been left outside the shopping centre in Spain following Richard’s death.
The 16-year-old had earlier announced the apparent suicide pact with his girlfriend on social media.
Well-wishers left flowers and handwritten notes outside the shopping centre where the boy plunged to his death
Family, friends and well-wishers had penned heartfelt messages of condolence and flowers had been left outside.
Candles were also left for the private school-educated teenager at the spot just outside El Corte Ingles department store, in the upmarket resort of Puerto Banus near Marbella, where he plunged to his death just before midday on Friday 2 November.
One, signed Giulia and Deborah, said: ‘You will always be in our hearts, forever love you and we hope you find peace now. Love and kisses.’
Candles were also left for the teenager who reportedly attended one of the most exclusive schools in Marbella
Another, written on a piece of brown paper left under a lit candle, added: ‘Rest in paradise. I hope you’re not struggling wherever you are now. You will forever be missed.’
Police confirmed this morning, Saturday 3 November, that the teenager was 16 and not 14 as they initially indicated.
His British girlfriend, saved by hero security guards at the department store after experiencing a ‘moment’s doubt’ seconds before she leapt into the abyss, was 14.
The El Corte Ingles department store where the 16-year-old died
The pair both attended the exclusive fee-paying school in Marbella, the Aloha College, which takes in pupils aged three to 14, however the school was unavailable for comment.
Police have already said that although the incident is still under investigation, they are treating the unnamed British boy’s death as a suicide.
His girlfriend was taken to a health centre after suffering a panic attack. Her whereabouts are still not known.
Earlier today it emerged the boy had hit a tree and street sign on his 65ft plunge to the ground and narrowly missed a pedestrian who was walking near the spot where he fell.
Friends have described him as the son of a British father and Brazilian mother.
Sources at the department store he plunged to his death from confirmed they had received calls from the couple’s friends after they announced their intention to throw themselves off the roof of the shopping centre on social media.
The source said: ‘We received a call just before midday. The call came through to reception and security guards were alerted immediately.
‘They went straight up to the roof when they were told the couple would be and although they sadly got there too late to save the boy, were able to reach the girl in time.
‘It would appear she hesitated after experiencing a split-second of doubt and that gave the security guards time to grab hold of her and save her life.
The 14-year-old died after falling 65 feet from the top of the shopping centre in Puerto Banus (scene pictured)
Police cars outside the shopping centre in Marbella. It is understood that the boy had reached the top of the building via the emergency staircase
‘Everyone’s in a state of shock. It’s horrific what’s happened.
‘They went to the same school as far as I understand.’
The teenager landed on the street by a zebra crossing near to a busy roundabout close to the main entrance of El Corte Ingles, which is popular with holidaymakers and expats.
One onlooker who arrived soon after the tragedy said: ‘A white sheet was still on the ground when I arrived.
Sources at the department store he plunged to his death from confirmed they had received calls from the couple’s friends after they announced their intention to throw themselves off the roof
‘There were a couple of youngsters on a bench nearby who were beside them with grief. They looked to me like they might have been friends.
‘In the summer that area is packed with people including many tourists and expats who could easily have been walking right at the spot where he fell.’
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office have been contacted by MailOnline for comment.
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