The scene outside the Chevron Renaissance in Surfers Paradise after a person fell from one of the high rise towers. Picture: Glenn Hampson Source: The Courier-Mail
POLICE investigating the death of a 17-year-old girl who fell from a balcony at Schoolies celebrations on the Gold Coast say it's a "tragic end to a successful week".
The girl fell to her death last night from a balcony on Tower Three of the Cheveron Renaissance complex at 9.30pm.
Police said CPR was performed on the girl at the scene, but she could not be revived.
Speaking from Gold Coast Police Headquarters at midnight, Inspector Pat Swindells called for any witnesses to the fatal fall to come forward.
"We have no further information at this stage We're trying to ascertain what's happened," Insp Swindells said.
"It's a tragic end to a successful week."
Police said they were speaking to members of the girl's family.
The scene outside the Chevron Renaissance in Surfers Paradise after a person fell from one of the high rise towers. Picture: Glenn Hampson
They described a scene of panic as schoolies watched in disbelief while paramedics rushed to the girl.
A schoolie on the 24th floor wrote on Facebook: "Someone just jumped off the Chevron balcony 2 floors down from us! Can Freaking see them and oh god paramedics everywhere and the building is in lockdown. This is as scary as hell."
The death is a massive blow to Schoolies organisers, who had presided over a relatively quiet week until tonight's tragedy.
Up to 30,000 Year 12 graduates are in Surfers Paradise for the rite of passage Schoolies festival.
One witness told the ABC he saw the girl fall onto the pool area of the hotel.
The scene outside the Chevron Renaissance in Surfers Paradise after a person fell from one of the high rise towers. Picture: Glenn Hampson
"A girl fell off the balcony - just watched her fall," schoolie Seb Giorgio said.
"I didn't want to watch."
Rory, a barman across the road from the Towers Of Chevron Renaissance, said hundreds of schoolies were standing outside the hotel after the incident.
"I saw 200 schoolies out the front of the building, two ambulance (crews), there were cops everywhere," he told AAP.
Insp Swindells refused to speculate on what may have happened, unable to confirm if drugs or alcohol had played a part in the girl's fall from the high rise.
"Any incident in a high rise is a concern," he said.
The scene from the Chevron Renaissance in Surfers Paradise, with people looking on after a person fell from a balcony in Tower Three. Picture: Glenn Hampson
He warned the class of 2012 to take care while partying for the remainder of the week.
"This week of schoolies has been a fantastic week. The young people who have been coming to Surfers Paradise have been exemplary in their behaviour."
Police said investigations into the circumstances surrounding the tragedy were ongoing.
The tragedy comes just days after 18-year-old Cameron Cox was photographed sleeping on a ledge on the 11th floor of the Surfers Hawaiian Holiday Apartments. The photo, taken by a fellow schoolie and posted on Instagram, sparked national safety discussions.
The Courier-Mail reported this month police were planning a balcony blitz to target high-rises, as debate raged over whether high-rise balconies should be locked off during the annual party.
Three people fell to their deaths from Gold Coast skyscrapers last month.
Police have previously ordered some balconies be closed, but pressure was mounting in the lead up to this year's festival for a full balcony lock-up.
It is understood coast unit managers have considered the move, but didn't follow through.
Matt Lloyd, who runs the accommodation website schoolies.com, told The Courier-Mail this month any decision to lock balcony doors could not be made hastily.
"A lot of students book a year in advance and they are paying for rooms they expect to have balconies," he said.
-- with AAP
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