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Schoolboy killed in mountain fall Schoolboy killed in mountain fall
(about 3 hours later)
A 12-year-old boy from Kent has fallen to his death while trekking on a school trip in southern Austria.A 12-year-old boy from Kent has fallen to his death while trekking on a school trip in southern Austria.
Hayden Waller, a pupil at the Howard School in Rainham, died from a broken neck and severe head injuries.Hayden Waller, a pupil at the Howard School in Rainham, died from a broken neck and severe head injuries.
Medway Council said he was hiking with three friends near Mallnitz on Monday afternoon when he lost his footing and fell 30ft (9m).Medway Council said he was hiking with three friends near Mallnitz on Monday afternoon when he lost his footing and fell 30ft (9m).
Another boy was slightly injured. Paul Morris, Hayden's head teacher, said staff and pupils were "devastated".Another boy was slightly injured. Paul Morris, Hayden's head teacher, said staff and pupils were "devastated".
In a statement, he said: "I would like to send my deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Hayden Waller. Speaking outside the school, he said the accident was a tragic loss.
"Staff are comforting the other pupils on the trip and we are arranging for them to return home as soon as possible." "I would like to send my deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Hayden Waller.
Rose Collinson, director of children's services at Medway Council, added it would play a "full part" in an investigation in to the youngster's death. "I went to Hayden's parents' home last night and told them of the death of their son."
Local police said Hayden, from Wigmore, and three other boys had been trekking a short distance up the mountain from their hotel, in the southern province of Carinthia, to a viewpoint late on Monday afternoon. The four boys were attempting to walk up the mountain to a local viewpoint but strayed from the safety of the path to take a short cut, according to the Mallnitz director of tourism, Peter Angermann.
They had tried to reach a hut without using the path and had ventured across an open area which became steeper and stonier. I am very confident that the Howard School staff and everyone involved did everything by the book Hayley Waller
The group decided to turn back, but Hayden and another boy fell. A police spokesman in the town told the BBC: "They came back to the hotel about four o'clock from skiing and asked the teacher if they could go shopping for food and drink.
"They teachers didn't know they climbed up this hill."
He said the boys were wearing trainers on the climb, on rocky and icy terrain.
Hayden's parents, Hayle and Gary Waller, from Wigmore, have flown to Mallnitz, in the southern province of Carinthia.
'Tragic accident'
"I want to make it clear that no-one should be blamed for this terrible accident," said Mrs Waller in a statement issued by Medway Council.
"I am very confident that the Howard School staff and everyone involved did everything by the book.
"This was a just a tragic accident."
She paid tribute to her "adventurous little boy", adding: "Everyone loved him".
"He was the most lovable, likeable child you have ever come across and we are absolutely devastated."
She said Hayden's younger brother would be starting at the Howard in September and she would be happy to let him go on a similar trip."
The group had decided to turn back from their climb when Hayden and another boy fell.
One of the youngsters ran down the hillside and told a passer-by what had happened, but when emergency services and a rescue helicopter reached the scene Hayden was already dead.One of the youngsters ran down the hillside and told a passer-by what had happened, but when emergency services and a rescue helicopter reached the scene Hayden was already dead.
Rose Collinson, director of children's services at Medway Council, added it would play a "full part" in an investigation into the youngster's death.
A council spokesman said it would not comment on whether the boys were unsupervised at the time of the accident until the Austrian police investigation was complete.
The council said there were 39 pupils, aged from 12 to 18, on the trip with seven teaching staff.
They were due to stay until Sunday but would now be returning early.
Pupils from the school had been travelling to the same resort for 20 years.