A nine-year-old girl who died after being found in critical condition at school this week was a 'lovely' kid who would hug staff every morning.

Her death is being referred to the coroner, and is suspected to be one of the youngest self-inflicted deaths New Zealand has suffered.

The student at Somerset Crescent School in Palmerston North was found by teachers in a critical condition on Tuesday, Board of Trustee chair Tony Coffin said.

She was transported to Palmerston North Hospital intensive care unit where she was placed on life support. She was surrounded by family and school staff when doctors turned off life support.

Coffin sad: "She was just a lovely girl who always went around hugging everybody. First thing in the morning she would be around hugging the staff. It's a total shock."

He said staff who tried to revive the girl and classmates were receiving counselling.

"Obviously it's not very good. Some of the kids move on very quickly but some of them are pretty traumatised. We've had a lot of support from specialist teams. We've been inundated with support. For a few of the staff it's been quite difficult."

Coffin added the school were supporting the girl's father closely.

"We've got a really good relationship with him. He's a great father. We're doing everything we can to support him."

The school, which has a roll of 240, is in the suburb of Highbury. Coffin said the girl was taken to Te Aroha Noa Community service centre on Friday night, where school staff joined family for a service.

After the tangi, the girl is to be buried on Monday.

The Ministry of Education has been supporting the students and staff.

Head of sector enablement and support Katrina Casey said: "The death of any child is a terrible tragedy. Our thoughts are with the child's family, friends and school community at this very difficult time.



"Members of our traumatic incident team have been at the school and we will continue to provide support for as long as it is required."

A Police National Headquarters spokesman added: "The young victim was provided with immediate medical care and taken to hospital. Police has referred the matter to the appropriate agencies and we are not seeking anyone else in relation to the incident."

One ambulance staff member involved in the operation was so affected by the incident that they reached out to a mental health advocate Richie Hardcore.

Hardcore posted on Twitter that an ambulance worker had messaged him "wanting to vent about her day".

"Nothing is much more symptomatic that our society is completely broken & sick," he wrote.

Youthline national spokesman Stephen Bell said any accidental death was tragic.

"Too many times it is a spur of the moment decision. It is not necessarily a well thought through and connected decision.



"After all the years I've been working in this area when people say 'what can a person do?' What I say all sounds like common sense. Try to recognise someone is thinking about it. If you're unsure never be afraid, always ask. If you think it is a volatile situation - don't leave, get help.

"There are a whole lot of things we can do once we're connected."

- additional reporting Nicholas McBride

WHERE TO GET HELP

The Mental Health Foundation's free Resource and Information Service (09 623 4812) will refer callers to some of the helplines below: