Tragic Snowboarder Ellie Soutter one country's coming snowboarders dies
 

Rising star snowboarder Ellie Soutter died on her eighteenth birthday - her heartbroken father confirmed
The young athlete was tipped to become an Olympian in Beijing 2022 after repeated junior team success
Ellie who lived in France had just been selected to represent her country again in New Zealand, next season
Devastated Tony Soutter said his 'Bessie' and 'soul mate' daughter died in a statement on Facebook

A champion snowboarder with realistic hopes of representing Team GB at the next Winter Olympics has been found dead on her eighteenth birthday with officials suggesting it was suicide.

Ellie Soutter died on Wednesday having returned to the UK to attend a family wedding with her father Tony, who she lived with in the French Alps.
Mr Soutter said last night he had lost his 'soul mate' and British Ski and Snowboard, the UK's governing body, paid tribute to the young star and urged people to get ’support’ from to the suicide prevention charity Samaritans.

Her bereft father said: 'This cruel world took my soul mate and 'Bessie' from me yesterday on her 18th birthday I was so proud of the beautiful young woman she had turned into. Ellie I will miss you more than you could have ever imagined. Rest in peace you little Champion'.

Miss Soutter's mother Lorraine Denman is a body builder and former beauty queen who lives in Hove, East Sussex.

Tributes poured in today from friends and fellow snowboarders including her recent boyfriend Oscar Mandin, who posted a photo of them together next to Big Ben with the message 'Goodbye Ellie' and a red heart.

Ellie was considered one of British snowboarding's future stars who had high hopes of competing in the Winter Olympics in Beijing in 2022.

Her career looked in jeopardy at the start of 2018 when she had to pull out of training and competing due to 'lack of funds' - but she had fought back and was set to compete for Team GB in the junior world championships in New Zealand next month.

Her father launched a fundraising drive over Facebook, announcing her programme had 'come to a halt' because of the huge cost of a season in the sport - at £24,000.

But the young athlete, who lived in France and was raised in Surrey bounced back, winning sponsorship from financial services firm Carne and by March, was back on competition podiums.

She came second at the Eldorado Junior Freeride Tour and in April, in the same tournament in Verbier - finished third in Europe.

Just weeks ago, on July 8, Tony Soutter announced he was a 'proud dad' as Ellie had been selected to represent the Team GB squad for the Junior World Championships in New Zealand.

On Thursday, her heartbroken father broke the tragic news.

British Ski & Snowboard, the National Governing Body for Skiing & Snowboarding in the UK, led the tributes and urged young people to seek support from Samaritans or Childline.


http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...y-aged-18.html

Why keep it secret how she Died
?????????

officials were suggesting it was a suicide, but i guess the autopsy report will tell us more

18 year old
top sports star
why "suicide" ?


[Just weeks ago, on July 8, Tony Soutter announced he was a 'proud dad' as Ellie had been selected to represent the Team GB squad for the Junior World Championships in New Zealand.]

Pressure and stress leading to depression, most likely.

Yes could be
Tragic the Family were not aware of the truth?

I thought it might be drugs as she died on her birthday, her poor family either way it is a tragedy

Such a tragedy. I too wonder why no cause of death' has been mentioned. Sad, whatever the cause was. RIP.

How terribly sad and so young , did no one know she was struggling mentally, but like others have said it could be something entirely different, either way very tragic.

Yes its wrong.
Its on the news
without the cause of death?