The young person killed in a railway incident while biking home from school has been described as a “delightful, happy” member of their school community.

Police are appealing for witnesses after the child was struck by a train at a level crossing on Hewletts Rd in Mount Maunganui around 2.55pm yesterday.

The death has been referred to the Coroner.

Mount Maunganui Intermediate School principal Melissa Nelson said it was one of their students who was tragically killed.

She told the Bay of Plenty Times the student was a “delightful, happy, engaged and valuable” member of the school’s family.

Moung Maunganui Intermediate School. Photo / Alex Cairns

“They had a life ahead of them, and that’s tragically been cut short.”

She said the details around the age and gender of the child were for the family to make public.

“As a school, we’re devasted to lose one of our own in such awful circumstances,” she said.

 “At this stage, our main role is to wrap around our students and staff as they’re processing the loss of a friend and student.”

She said there were “lots of grieving… very sad people” as the Mount was a close-knit community.

She said no other students were “witness to the accident”.

Police at the scene of an incident on Hewletts Rd railway crossing where a person was hit by a train. Photo / Alex Cairns

Nelson said the school was “well supported” by the Ministry of Education trauma and support team was at the school, and the school was following the guidance to support students and staff.

In a post on the school’s Facebook page this afternoon, Nelson said the student was killed while biking home from school.

“The loss of a child is an unimaginable tragedy and our hearts and love go out to the family affected by this loss.

“In the coming days, we will wrap around the whanau and walk with them as they grieve.”

Nelson said in the post that teachers had told their classes about the tragic death and students have been “well supported to process the news.

“Those who know the student are being particularly supported by the Trauma Team, our school counsellor, school mentors and the leadership team here at MMI.”

She said that families of students who lost their classmate have all been contacted personally by one of the school’s deputy principals.

“Whanau 20 are doing a wonderful job; sharing their memories, writing messages to the family and expressing their emotions. There is plenty of support available to them here at school,” she said.

“Already this morning, we have been inundated with messages of love and support from all across Tauranga Moana and particularly from our Mount Maunganui community.”

She sent sympathies to Omanu School, where the student attended for their primary school years and Mount College where whānau currently attend.

“Our whole community will feel this loss deeply and I feel grateful that we are such a close-knit community that supports each other so well in times of need.

“In awful times, the human spirit prevails and I have been incredibly proud of our staff and how well they have supported our students today.”

She said she would let the school community know in the coming days how it could support the family.

Nelson urged parents to let the teachers know if their child was struggling with the news.

She said there will be additional support services at the school in the coming days and the school would refer any students who needed extra support to an expert.

Comments of support have flooded the school’s social media.

”My heart is shattered for this young person’s family. Love to the school and friends while they navigate how to get through this,” one said.

Another said: “Absolutely heart broken for the family, all our kids and teachers at Mount Intermediate. Thinking of everyone at this hard time.”

In a statement this morning, police appealed for anyone that witnessed the incident or saw a young person riding a bicycle in the area immediately prior to the incident around 2.50pm to call 105 or make a report online at police.govt.nz/use-105 using the reference file number 230731/0283.

KiwiRail chief operations officer Siva Sivapakkiam said the incident had occurred at the Hewletts Rd level crossing.

“These types of events are deeply traumatic for those involved, and our thoughts are with all those affected,” Sivapakkiam said.

“In line with our standard practice, our locomotive engineer has been offered counselling and support. KiwiRail will also be supporting him with some time away from work.”

Roads in the area closed for a time and most had repeoned by 6.30pm.

Shortly after the incident a passerby, who would not be named, told the Bay of Plenty Times that traffic was backed up but the response from emergency services was swift and police and firefighters were at the scene.

She said she could see schoolchildren jumping over stationary carriages to get across the tracks near KFC.