A DERBY school has been hit with a double tragedy after a pupil aged 12 and a former pupil died on successive days.
Headteacher Ash Venkatesh paid tribute to them both after their deaths.
The 12-year-old girl, from Derby, died on Monday.
George Watson, 17, from Whitaker Road, Littleover, died on Tuesday.
A statement from the family said: "We are all absolutely devastated at the sudden and unexpected death of our beloved beautiful son, George.
"It is difficult for us to understand how and why this has happened to our amazing young man, who had so much of his life ahead of him. George was our perfect boy and the best big brother.
"He was loved dearly by us all. He will be missed greatly as a grandson, nephew, cousin and friend to all who knew and loved our special boy. Our lives will never be the same without him."
Mr Venkatesh said he was not yet in a position to name the girl, who was in year eight, but said she was a "very popular" girl.
He said: "Our main priority is to offer support to our pupils and their friends who are upset and grieving.
"It's a very distressing time but nothing compared to what their families are going through.
"They were both well-liked pupils and I'm very proud to have had them as students.
"There are a lot of people here at the school who are very sad and there is a lot of upset. There will be support for the teachers and a lot of them are very upset."
Mr Venkatesh has been head teacher at the school for four-and-a-half years and was deputy head teacher before that for seven years.
He said it had been the most tragic time he had known at the school.
He said: "They were both well-known and well liked pupils. They had a lot of connections with the pupils and staff who taught them.
"They made great impressions to their peers and staff."
The Rev Alicia Dring, of St Peter's Church in Littleover, said she had held prayers.
She said: "It's devastating news for the family and friends of these two young people. We're praying for the community and as church leaders we want to offer support to the school.
"It's a terrible, terrible tragedy when young people are on the edge of adulthood and it's desperately sad.
"Any death is tragic but for the community this is awful. It's a mixed-faith community and there are a lot of different faiths across the area.
"This is a time for the community to support each other, regardless of faith. The families have to be everybody's priority."
She said the community would gather for prayers at the church on Sunday.
She said: "We have already prayed this morning and on Sunday there will be a chance to remember with special prayers and a candle will be lit for them."
