'A light has left us in the dark' - grandmother grieves for Emily

Emily Longley. Photo / Supplied

The grandmother who cared for former Auckland student Emily Longley in Britain has spoken of her pain at the 17-year-old's unexplained death.

Family had yesterday gathered at the home of Zosia and Ronald Longley in the seaside borough of Southbourne, in south England, where the aspiring model had lived for the past two years.

Miss Longley's mother, Caroline, came from Auckland on Monday and her father, Mark, had just arrived from Whakatane.

It emerged yesterday that the teen may have gone out for cocktails with friends on Friday evening (UK time) before her body was found at the Bournemouth home of ex-boyfriend Elliot Turner's parents on Saturday.

Elliot Turner, 19, and a 17-year-old male were arrested but released on bail as police await toxicology results to determine the cause of death.

Speaking for the first time, Zosia Longley said: "Our dearest Emily will now be forever 17. A light has left us in the dark." Mrs Longley had celebrated her granddaughter's 17th birthday with a dinner in February.

Earlier, on Facebook, she had jokingly spoken of her shock that she was old enough to have a 17-year-old granddaughter. In one post, the caring grandmother said: "Raining outside, wood burner blazing away, lovely morning with the family. Bliss. And Emily safely home!"

A relative at the property told the Herald: "Her parents have only just arrived and they've got a great deal to absorb and they're still recovering from their journey."

Earlier her parents, who are separated, made a heartfelt public plea in Britain for information on their daughter's death. They said in a joint family statement they still don't know what had happened to her at the weekend.

"Our beautiful, wonderful Emily is gone and we don't know how," they said. "We have to wait until the police finish their investigations.

"We are confident that they will be thorough and we truly appreciate their sympathetic and discreet support.

"We ask that anyone who knows anything about events involving Emily last Friday evening and night to contact the investigating team."

The Longleys said they were very grateful for the sympathy and support they'd received "from so many kind people".

"The deluge of messages of regret and tributes to Emily on Facebook has been astonishing. The number of people who knew her and love her is amazing."

They said there had been "a great deal of distressing speculation" about how Miss Longley died.

"We ask everybody to join us in waiting patiently for the police to complete their investigation. In the meantime, please respect her family's privacy while we come to terms with this tragic loss."

Elliot Turner's home was still cordoned off by police who came and went most of the day, some dressed in boiler suits.

Miss Longley had moved to Britain after falling in with the "wrong crowd" while attending Westlake Girls High.

She was born in West London but emigrated to New Zealand with her parents eight years ago.

She was studying at Brockenhurst College in the New Forest area.