The parents of a teenager who died after falling from cliffs in Thurso have said they are haunted by the "thought of outliving her". Alesha Wright was pronounced dead at the scene after plunging around 50ft from popular beauty spot Victoria Walk in Caithness on Monday evening.
A man, named locally as the 18-year-old’s partner Dominic Long, 26, remains in a critical condition at Raigmore Hospital in Inverness after being injured during the same incident. A police investigation into the circumstances surrounding the fatal fall remains ongoing, with Alesha's death being treated as unexplained..
Alesha’s family have released a heartbreaking statement through Police Scotland on Thursday night in which they paid tribute to the popular young woman.
They said: “We are absolutely devastated to have lost our darling Alesha, who was a much loved daughter, sister, granddaughter, niece, cousin and friend to many. As parents, the thought of outliving Alesha was inconceivable and we ask for our privacy to be respected at this extremely distressing time.”
It is understood that officers are currently waiting to speak to her boyfriend about the circumstances behind the tragic incident.
Detective Inspector Richard Baird said: “It is vital we piece together exactly what happened in the lead up to their fall and we are carrying out a number of enquiries to establish this information. Victoria Walk is a popular area and I would appeal to anyone who may have seen them walking there or any drivers who were in the area who have dash-cam footage, to speak to officers.
“I would ask anyone with information or personal footage that may assist our ongoing enquiry to contact officers through 101 quoting reference number 2876 of 11 July.”
An air ambulance and HM Coastguard crews raced to the scene after being called to reports of two people having fallen from the cliff.
A statement from the Thurso lifeboat team said: “The Y boat was beached and the two crew members quickly located the two casualties, one male and one female. The crew members attended to them until the arrival of a paramedic who was winched down from the search and rescue helicopter from Inverness.
"The young man was winched up by the helicopter to a waiting ambulance. The female casualty was transferred to a stretcher and taken by the Y boat to The Taylors and then taken to Scrabster where she was transferred into the care of Police Scotland.”
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