The heartbroken boyfriend of a schoolgirl who died after suspected choking during consensual sex has issued a gut-wrenching message online.
Police were called to an Elanora Heights home on Sydney’s Northern Beaches about 5:45pm on Sunday, where a 16-year-old girl was found unresponsive.
She was flown to Royal North Shore Hospital, where she died on Tuesday night.
When police spoke to the boy on Sunday, it is understood officers were told the pair had been engaged in a consensual act when the girl passed out, and that she may have had a seizure.
Devastated friends of the beloved teen took to social media to share tributes for their “angel”.
“You light up every room you walk into, there was never a dull moment with you angel. My sweet gorgeous girl, you always had a smile on your face, I will forever miss you,” wrote one friend, accompanied by photos of the smiling teen.
“Everything you said always made me giggle. I’ll see you again in another life. I love you.”
In another clip, the 16-year-old is seen dancing alongside a friend, who captioned the post: “Such a beautiful girl.”
The teen’s boyfriend took to the comments, where he left a heartbreaking message for his “love”.
“I love you more than anything … and I miss you more than you could ever imagine. Rest peacefully my love.”
Another post showed clips of the teen laughing, singing and dancing.
“You were the first friend I ever made at [school], you were such a beautiful girl inside and out,” the friend wrote.
“I love and miss you so much. Thank you for all the memories we have made together I will forever cherish them.
“You hold such a special place in my heart, miss you forever.”
Many of the teen’s friends also paid tribute by writing the date of her death in their social media bios.
According to NSW Police, an investigation into the incident has commenced and inquiries are ongoing.
A 16-year-old boy, believed to be the teen’s boyfriend, is co-operating with police.
Researchers from the University of Melbourne and University of Queensland found in 2024 that about half of young people had engaged in choking or strangulation during sex.
Social Services Minister Tanya Plibersek said she was “extremely worried” after learning of the alleged incident.
“Almost 60 per cent of young people report that they’ve experienced choking in a recent sexual encounter,” she told ABC Radio National.
“So, I can’t say anything obviously about this tragic situation in NSW, but in general terms of figures like that just concern me so deeply.”
Ms Plibersek said there was “no safe way of choking someone”, and blamed an increase in the practise on pornography, which she said was giving kids their sex education “before they’ve even had their first kiss”.
“Parents have to use this opportunity to talk to their young people about this practice,” she said.
“About 60 per cent of young people say they’ve seen it in pornography … it is not safe and we need to use every opportunity of saying this to young people.
“It is way too common. It can cause death immediately. It can cause death weeks down the track through blood clots.”
On Monday, a spokeswoman for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s office told news.com.au the government is considering banning depictions of choking, strangulation and suffocation in pornography.
“The Albanese Government is deeply concerned about young people being exposed to sexual strangulation and other harmful behaviours through online content such as pornography,’’ they said.
“That’s why our world-leading online safety laws include strong protections to prevent children from being exposed to age-inappropriate content.
“Under the Age-Restricted Material Codes, online platforms must prevent children being accidentally exposed to harmful or age-restricted material. In addition to introducing age verification, the codes require safeguards like image blurring and also effective reporting mechanisms.”
The NSW Liberal leader, Kellie Sloane, also called on the Prime Minister to act, saying the death of the teen has “rocked everyone to their core”.
“Let’s act now, let’s not wait any longer,’’ she said.
“It has the ability to program the young, vulnerable minds of a generation of people whose first sexual experiences are being distorted because of this. Kids at 16, this is shocking. And it’s becoming normalised.”
Attorney-General Michelle Rowland said she was working on a strategy with Labor frontbenchers Tanya Plibersek and Annika Wells.
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