Leah Wilson: Family attempts to bring 17-year-old's body home after 'tragic accident'

A 17-year-old British girl has died in a "tragic accident" in Tenerife - and her grieving family is trying to raise money to bring home the body.

Leah Wilson. Picture: Facebook fundraiser

Leah Wilson is believed to have been holidaying with her family on the Spanish island when she tragically died on Monday (August 12).

And now her devastated family, from Bridgwater, Somerset, are having to raise funds through an online appeal in order to secure the £10,000 needed to repatriate Leah.

The Facebook fundraising appeal, called Bring Leah Wilson Home, has seen both donations and tributes pouring in for the teen, and raised £6,400 in its first 24 hours.

A description of the fundraising page reads: "We are raising money to bring Leah home from Tenerife as she has sadly passed away due to a tragic accident.

"The cost of bringing her home is too much for the family, if everybody could be kind to help with the costs of bringing her back to her family and give her the send off she deserves.

"Leah was only 17, she was loved by so many people and will be so sadly missed.

"The funds will go straight towards bringing her home, but anything more will go towards the funeral and any other expenses the family will need to cover."

A spokeswoman for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office said it is supporting the girl's family and assisting Spanish authorities with their investigations.

A statement reads: "We are supporting the family of a young British woman who has died in Tenerife, and are in touch with the Spanish authorities."

Leah's older sister, Kayleigh Wilson, shared an emotional tribute on Facebook, writing: "Beautiful, funny, intelligent, loud and crazy. My amazing little sister. My boys' auntie.

"How the world can take you at 17. I love you with all my heart. I feel like I can't breathe. I will always love you and so will your nephews.

"Far too young to be taken from us, you had your whole life ahead of you. Your dream career. Everything.

"I'm just expecting you to walk back through that door and give me some mouth. I love you Leah Wilson."

Family who answered the door at their home in Bridgwater said they did not wish to discuss the situation any further.

Donations can be made to the fundraising appeal by searching for Bring Leah Wilson Home on Facebook.

The link to Leah's fundraising page is here.