Family and school teachers have paid emotional tribute to a teenager who was killed in a car crash on a rural road in mid-west New South Wales.
Stirling Heriot, 17, was driving through Quambone when his vehicle veered off the road and rolled at about 6.45pm on Friday.
Police officers were unable to revive Heriot, the only occupant of the car, and he was pronounced dead at the scene.
The crash occurred near Heriot’s family property in Coonamble.
The Year 12 student was a boarder at the prestigious King’s School in Sydney and a talented rower.
His mother, Bridie Heriot, posted a heartwrenching message to her son on Facebook.
“My beautiful boy, how will we do life without you?” she wrote.
“You could not have been loved more and our hearts are full just thinking of you. Stay safe until I can hold you again.”
The King’s School posted a tribute to Heriot on Facebook, saying the popular student was “widely admired for his kindness, generosity and willingness to engage warmly with those around him”.
“A dedicated contributor to school life, he was a committed member of the 2nd IV in Rowing and had previously been involved in Rugby and Cadets,” the school wrote.
“His persistence and work ethic were evident in all he undertook, especially in Industrial Technology, where he was proudly building a tandem-axle multipurpose farm trailer intended for use on the family property as his major project.”
Heriot’s former housemaster at his boarding house, Robbie Williams, said he developed a special bond with the student during the four years he spent in the role.
Williams said Heriot was a “kind, caring and empathetic young man”.
“What I always loved about Stirling is that he is honest as the day is long and the big fella didn’t have a mean bone in his body,” he wrote.
“I have never seen a young man roll up his sleeves and work as hard as Stirling when he got the chance to put his skills on display in something he loved!
“A young man who would have made a real difference in our community and who has been taken far too soon.”
Police have launched an investigation into the crash and a report is being prepared for the coroner.
