A gifted university student was found dead in her bedroom the day after joining friends on an “End of the World” pub crawl.
Bonnie Whitehead, 19, was studying law and international relations at the Gold Coast’s Bond University on scholarship, after attending North Sydney’s exclusive Wenona girls’ school.
Police are awaiting the results of a post-mortem examination to determine the cause of death and are expecting the initial report today.
The former NSW country girl from Tuross Head joined about 600 fellow students on an “End of the World” pub crawl – an event organised by the student association three times a year – about 3pm last Friday.
It is understood she went home to bed early, about 9pm, while her friends partied on.
The next day her housemates found her unconscious and not breathing in her room about 1.40pm.
Despite the frantic efforts of ambulance paramedics, the teenager could not be resuscitated.
She was pronounced dead at the scene.
Friends have paid tribute to the bright and talented teenager, saying she was “like no other”.
“There are people you meet who will turn your world upside down – Bonnie Whitehead was one of them,” one friend wrote on Facebook.
Ms Whitehead, who had a passion for human rights and history, made the NSW Premier’s all-round achievers’ list for outstanding academic achievement.
When her classmates were on Schoolies Week, she went to Phnom Penh in Cambodia for three months where she volunteered at a hospital and taught English to adults.
Students gathered at the university’s Princeton Room on Wednesday to remember their friend and peer, “and all the ways she changed a part of each of us.”
In a statement today, Bond University acting vice-chancellor Alan Finch said students were in shock and requested the media respect their privacy.
“The passing of Bonnie Whitehead is a terrible tragedy that has shocked and saddened the whole Bond community,” he said.
“Bonnie was an outstanding student and a very active member of the student community and association who was well liked.
“This is a very difficult time for her family and friends.”