Cardiff river death: Tribute to ‘fun and kind’ Nicola Williams

Tributes have been paid to a “fun, kind and generous” 15-year-old schoolgirl who died after an incident in a river.

Nicola Williams died on Friday at the Rhymney River in the Llanrumney area of Cardiff after emergency services battled to save her life.

Police are not treating the death of Nicola, from the Trowbridge area of the city, as suspicious.

She has been described as “polite, respectful and hardworking” by the headteacher of her school.

“Any school would be better for having Nicola in it and we were fortunate to have her as part of our community,” said David Thomas, head of St Illtyd’s Catholic High School in Rumney.

“Polite, respectful and hardworking, Nicola was also so full of fun, kindness and generosity to others.”

Image copyright Richard Swingler

South Wales Police was called to the scene near Ball Lane in Llanrumney at 17:20 BST, along with fire crews and the ambulance service and a police helicopter.

Nicola was found at about 18:40 and died despite the efforts of emergency crews, police said.

“We are all still reeling from the tragic events of Friday evening,” added Mr Thomas.

“Sometimes words are just not enough and do not do a person justice. This is certainly the case with Nicola.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends and like the rest of the community we will do all we can to help and support them during, and beyond, this awful time.”

Prayers were said for Nicola and her family at her local catholic church on Sunday.

“We prayed for Nicola and for her family at masses today,” said Father Brian Gray at St John Lloyd Church in Trowbridge.

A tribute posted on the Facebook page for St John Lloyd Church and St Cadoc Churches said: “As a pupil at St Illtyd’s Catholic High School she was part not just of a school, but of a community of pupils, parents, teachers, governors and staff.

“Our prayers are that Nicola will be part of the kingdom of heaven and that she will have eternal life with Jesus.”