Tributes have been paid to beloved US news anchor Neena Pacholke who died over the weekend, with her described as "a little ball of sunshine" and an "incredible friend".
Neena was a morning anchor on News 9 WAOW, which is based in Wisconsin, and the news of her passing, aged just 27, was confirmed by the station in a statement yesterday.
It said that the team were "absolutely devastated" to share the news that its "beloved" morning news anchor Neena had "passed away suddenly" on Saturday (August 27).
An official cause of death has yet to be reported, though according to the Tampa Bay Times, her sister Kaitlynn Pacholke confirmed that Neena had taken her own life.
Kaitlynn said: "[She] was by far the happiest person I thought I knew. [...] Sometimes you just don't know what people are going through, no matter how much you think you know someone."
"My sister had access to every resource you could imagine. She was loved by everybody. She was so good at her job," she said of Neena, who is said to have been engaged.
Further paying tribute, Kaitlynn described her sister as a "little ball of sunshine" and said she had an ability to "make you feel like you were the most important person".
Some of Neena's colleagues have also paid tribute, including her co-anchor Brendan Mackey who said: "I have never met anyone in my entire life that is more loved than this girl.
"Every day she made people smile, whether that was through a TV screen or just being an incredible friend. She was so happy and so full of life and a role model."
He added: "Being your co-anchor was an honour. You were Batman and I was Robin. When I joined WAOW you made it clear we were going to work hard and compete with the best."
He encouraged people to remember his late co-host as a "beautiful person" and the "brightest light in the room," adding: "The biggest smile and the funniest laugh."
Brendan concluded by writing in a statement: "I can't believe it. I am still in shock. It hasn't hit me yet. We all love you so much Neena. I am going to miss you so much."
According to the Independent, WAOW paid tribute in its own statement, writing: The entire team here at News 9 are absolutely devastated by the loss as we know so many others are as well.
It continued: "Neena loved this community and the people who lived here. She was a kind person with a big heart and a contagious smile and we will miss her greatly."
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