Candlelit vigil for Gaia Pope held in Swanage Dorset

Hundreds of people gathered for an emotional candlelit vigil in memory of Gaia Pope – exactly a week after her body was found.

Crowds of mourners observed a minute’s silence and listened to heartbreaking tributes to the 19-year-old at the Prince Albert Gardens amphitheatre in Swanage, Dorset.

Her father Richard Sutherland, mother Natasha Pope, sister Clara, and cousin Marienna Pope-Wiedemann thanked the community for their support as they fought back tears.

Crowds of mourners observed a minute’s silence and listened to heartbreaking tributes to the 19-year-old at the Prince Albert Gardens amphitheatre in Swanage, Dorset. Gaia’s cousin Marienna Pope-Weidemann is pictured consoling the teenager’s sister Clara this afternoon 

Gaia Pope's father Richard Sutherland (pictured) gave an emotional tribute to his late daughter

Mourners are pictured hugging each other as they gathered to remember 19-year-old Gaia Pope in Swanage, Dorset

Gaia Pope’s father Richard Sutherland gave an emotional tribute to his late daughter (pictured left) as others were pictured hugging each other as they fought to hold back tears at this afternoon’s vigil 

Many placed candles in glass jars near a floral tribute spelling Gaia (picture) below a framed photograph of the teenager

Many placed candles in glass jars near a floral tribute spelling Gaia (picture) below a framed photograph of the teenager

The amphitheatre was illuminated with the light of hundreds of candles lit in memory of the teenager, who’s body was found on November 18 – 11 days after she disappeared. 

Many placed candles in glass jars near a floral tribute spelling Gaia below a framed picture of her.  

Her cousin Marienna Pope-Wiedemann told crowds: ‘Gaia was like a sister to me since she was a baby.

‘Since the start of her life she shone fiercely, defiantly different and wise beyond her years.

Gaia's sister Clara is pictured placing lit candles in front of a framed picture of Gaia Pope and a floral tribute to her. The vigil was held as night fell this afternoon in Swanage, Dorset

Gaia’s sister Clara is pictured placing lit candles in front of a framed picture of Gaia Pope and a floral tribute to her. The vigil was held as night fell this afternoon in Swanage, Dorset

The Dorset coast was lit with the glow of hundreds of candles as night fell this afternoon. Gaia Pope's mother, father, sister and cousin attended her vigil and gave heartbreaking tributes to her 

The Dorset coast was lit with the glow of hundreds of candles as night fell this afternoon. Gaia Pope’s mother, father, sister and cousin attended her vigil and gave heartbreaking tributes to her 

‘She was full of life and laughter even in hard times which she met with courage and dignity. 

‘She wore her heart on her sleeve and always encouraged me to be brave even when I didn’t want to be.’

‘It breaks my heart to think how much she still had to give the world which she was determined to change for the better. 

‘She was a powerful young woman and it was well within her reach.’

A post-mortem examination did not identify any injuries to suggest third party involvement in Gaia’s death and police have said it is being treated as unexplained.

Three people arrested in connection with her disappearance were released by police without any further action being taken.  

A touching tribute: The light of hundreds of candles lit up the Dorset coast this afternoon as people remembered Gaia Pope

A touching tribute: The light of hundreds of candles lit up the Dorset coast this afternoon as people remembered Gaia Pope

A mourner places her tribute to teenager Gaia Pope, who went missing on November 7 and whose body was found 11 days later between her home in Langton Matravers and Swanage, Dorset 

A mourner places her tribute to teenager Gaia Pope, who went missing on November 7 and whose body was found 11 days later between her home in Langton Matravers and Swanage, Dorset 

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