Body flown home after trek death

The family flew back from Austria and visited the school

The body of a boy who fell to his death during a school skiing trip in the Austrian Alps has been flown home.

Hayden Waller, 12, of Wigmore, fell 30ft (9m) on to rocks on Monday while walking with friends near their hotel.

His family, who have also returned home have visited his school to view floral tributes placed there.

Thirty eight boys were on the trip from Rainham's Howard School. Hayden's mother, Hayley Waller, said the family "blamed no-one" for what happened.

She said: "We've laughed and cried, but laughed more than we've cried, because everyone absolutely adored him.

We don't know where we're at Hayley Waller

"We're going to cry a lot. We're going to try to force-feed ourselves because we haven't eaten and we're wasting away."

She added that the family, including her husband Gary, and her youngest son, Arran, had "been to see" Hayden on Thursday morning.

Arran had "given him a kiss and left him his teddy, and everyone's being brave, but we don't know where we're at, at the moment", she said.

The pupils, aged between 12 and 18, who were staying in the southern Austrian resort of Mallnitz, have been offered counselling by the school.

Hayden's friends have left floral tributes at the school gates

Another boy, Rodger Whitlow, 13, suffered minor injuries in the incident, but was well enough to return home with the rest of the party.

Medway Coroner's officer Mike Streeter said: "Hayden's body has been flown back and has been referred to the coroner."

He said there would be a post-mortem examination next week, and an inquest would be opened and adjourned.

"The investigation is still in the hands of the Austrian authorities," he said.

Pupils at the Howard School are organising a black tie day to be held at the school on Monday, in Hayden's memory.