The devastated grandfather of a 14-year-old girl who died after she was swept out to sea says she was an angel taken from the world too soon.
Terry Lewtas wept as he paid tribute to his beloved granddaughter Georgia six days after she was pulled from the water off Tasmania’s north coast.
‘She was an angel, the light of our lives, we are shattered. She only had her 14th birthday last month,’ he told Daily Mail Australia.
Georgia Lewtas, 14, died six days after she was swept out to sea off a Tasmanian beach
Her devastated grandfather Terry wept as he paid tribute to the ‘light of his life’ the day after her death in hospital
‘This whole house is full of photos and memories, everywhere we go I can see her.
‘We’re all in a bad way right now. We’re going through all the emotions, anger, frustration, anguish, but most of all heartache.’
The fledgling model and talented dancer was pronounced dead in hospital on Sunday after spending almost a week in a coma
The fledgling model and talented dancer was pronounced dead in Royal Hobart Hospital on Sunday after spending almost a week in a coma.
Georgia was swimming at Devonport’s Mersey Bluff Beach last Monday afternoon with her friend Ava, 15, when the pair got into trouble.
Two bystanders jumped into the ocean and hauled her to shore after finding her floating face down in the water.
Emergency services rushed the teenager to Mersey Community Hospital in a critical condition and later transferred her to Hobart.
Mr Lewtas, his wife Nancy and Georgia’s parents Chris and Lyn waited anxiously by her bedside hoping she would awake from her coma.
‘We were hoping for a miracle which didn’t transpire,’ Mr Lewtas said.
‘She’d been starved of oxygen for too long and everything was gone, the specialists explained to us she’d lost everything.
‘It was only her will that kept her going for that time, she looked like she was just sleeping.’
A 14-year-old girl has died six days after being swept out to sea from a Tasmanian beach despite the brave actions of two bystanders who jumped in to save her
The teenager was pulled from the water off Devonport’s Mersey Bluff Beach (pictured) in Tasmania’s north coast after she and a friend got into trouble last Monday afternoon
Ava managed to reach the coast before emergency services arrived and treated her for shock and minor abrasions.
Two bystanders rushed into the surf after witnessing the teen’s struggle with police claiming their heroic actions could have been the difference between life and death.
Police officers and the Devonport Surf Club then joined forces and deployed their rescue boat to pull the teenager out.
In a statement, Inspector Stuart Wilkinson thanked the heroes of the day.
‘The gratitude of our community should go to the two men who bravely entered the water without hesitation and potentially saved this young girl’s life’.
After being rescued, Georgia was treated by Ambulance Tasmania and Tasmania Police members on the beach for some time.
Emergency services rushed the teenager to Mersey Community Hospital in a critical condition and later transferred to Hobart.
Emergency services rushed the teenager to Mersey Community Hospital in a critical condition and later transferred to Hobart
‘Georgia’s family would like to thank the efforts of Tasmania Police, Surf Life Saving Australia and Ambulance Tasmania,’ Inspector Wilkinson said on Monday.
‘The family have expressed their appreciation for the assistance provided by the staff at the Mersey Community Hospital and the Royal Hobart Hospital.
‘They have thanked the good Samaritans that went to the aid of Georgia when she was in the water.’
‘Changing weather conditions pose a risk to all water users and swimmers in Tasmanian waters’, reminded Inspector Wilkinson after the incident.
Acknowledging the work done by rescuers, he then asked the community to be careful.
‘We urge all people to take caution when swimming in open waters and be mindful of currents, winds and to be aware of the often quickly changing conditions which may lead to tragic events such as this.’
Police are seeking any witnesses to the incident and request that they contact the Devonport Police Station on 64784011 or the police assistance line on 131444.