A young teacher’s aide who died after falling from a drainpipe outside a popular Adelaide pub while celebrating Halloween has been identified as a talented skating instructor with a passion for travelling.
Natasha Lawton was reportedly attempting to climb a drainpipe at the Rosemont Hotel on Hindley Street shortly after 4am on Sunday when it broke, sending her falling to the ground.
Bystanders and paramedics desperately tried to revive the young woman, but she died at the scene.
According to the Daily Mail, the 20-year-old had been walking past the venue when she attempted to climb the pipe and was not a patron of the pub.
Her death has devastated family, friends and Adelaide’s skating community, with loved ones remembering her as a kind and caring young woman.
A family friend told The Advertiser that Ms Lawton’s actions that night were completely out of character.
“She wasn’t a silly person. It’s just a very unfortunate thing that we’ve all done when we were that age, we’ve done silly things,” he said.
Ms Lawton worked as a teacher’s aide supporting primary school children with additional needs while studying for a teaching degree online.
She was also a talented artistic skater who taught others the sport.
The family friend recalled how she was always quick to help children who had fallen over, describing her as an incredibly giving person.
“The thing that stands out about Tash the most is just how giving and caring she was,” he said.
Tributes have also poured in from the skating community, with Team Skate FX remembering Ms Lawton as a much-loved instructor.
“RIP beautiful girl, taken too soon you will be missed,” the group wrote.
“Team Skate FX and the skating community send much love and strength to Tash’s family and friends at this sad time.”
Ms Lawton was also a keen skier and traveller who had recently visited Japan and Victoria’s Falls Creek.
She had reportedly been looking forward to returning to Japan for the upcoming ski season in Hakuba.
South Australia Police are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding her death and will prepare a report for the coroner.
Police have urged anyone who witnessed the incident or captured footage to come forward, while asking the public not to circulate videos of the tragedy.
“Police strongly urge people not to share any vision of the incident on social media or by any other means, out of respect for the woman and her family,” a spokesperson said.
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