Fiji Schoolies victim had world at his feet

GREAT LOSS: Sunnybank student Harrison Kadell has been described as a 'great loss' with deep links to his school and community. Source: The Courier-Mail

POSING for his formal photographs at Brisbane's Stamford Hotel in July, Harrison Kadell had already amassed an impressive CV even before finishing his schooling.

Vice-captain at Sunnybank's St Thomas More College, the 17-year-old was a talented performer with movie-star good looks who had landed film, TV and advertising parts.

But in an instant, in the early hours of yesterday morning and far from home in Fiji, he became the latest Schoolies casualty in a tragic drowning in a resort swimming pool.

"It's a terrible loss. Harrison was such a fine young man, so well connected to our college community," college principal Peter Elmore said.

His links to his school community ran deep.

Mother Selina is a former student at the school who serves as chair of the college board.

Sister Jordan was college captain and his brother is currently in Year 10.

For the teenager and his devoted parents, travelling to an idyllic Fiji island seemed like the safe alternative to celebrate Schoolies.

While other classmates headed to the Gold Coast, Harrison and three school friends jetted overseas on Sunday instead.

He was less than two weeks from marking his 18th birthday next Saturday.

Out of sight, though never out of mind of loving families back home, the group was met by rolling all-night parties.

It was a week-long Schoolies-only event organised by firm Unleashed Travel for up to 500 school leavers amid the lush tropical gardens and white beaches of Malolo LaiLai island, west of Nadi.

Two days after departing Brisbane, Harrison's lifeless body was pulled from the resort's swimming pool at around 4am yesterday and attempts to revive him failed.

Unconfirmed claims from the island suggested a "dare" underwater breathing game may have gone wrong.

But friends said his devastated parents were given no information on how he died before flying from Brisbane to Fiji yesterday to bring their son's body home. "It was four young boys going away and enjoying a holiday together," said principal Mr Elmore.

"There has been lots of speculation around the Schoolies on the Gold Coast and people look for alternatives.

"Maybe this was one of those things where it was sold as a safer alternative."

Parents of other schoolies staying at the resort scrambled to contact their children after news of the death first emerged yesterday.

"Hi wondering if you can help out. A friend's son is there for Schoolies . . . His parents are very worried as they just found out there was a drowning," one woman wrote on the resort's Facebook page.

Resort managers said in a Facebook statement late yesterday that the death resulted from an accident.

"Despite the best efforts of resort medical staff and Unleashed crew, we were unable to save him," the statement said. "Unsubstantiated reports of drinking games and parties around the pool are untrue. This was a terrible, tragic accident and we are all very sad about what has occurred."

Unleashed Travel did not return calls yesterday but says on its website the resort is a haven for school leavers.

"Plantation Island has become the biggest schoolies destination outside of Australia," the website says.

Shirley Naylor of Sydney, whose son was among the teen revellers at Plantation Island resort, learned of the drowning in an SMS from another mother.

"It's tragic and my heart goes out to the family," Ms Naylor said.

"You think they'll be safe away from 'toolies' and high rise buildings and all the rest of it but there's always something isn't there?

On the books of NHM Queensland, an actors' management agency, he is listed as an extra in movies including Fool's Gold and a range of TV commercials and print ads.

"Harrison Kadell was extremely loved," one student from his college wrote online.

"He was a great role model and friend. You will be missed Harry.

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