Dead teen Amber-Rose Rush's family get tattoo tributes ahead of funeral

Jayden Rush gets a tattoo on his arm from a drawing by his sister (Amber-Rose Rush) from Kandy Stripes Tattoo artist Shane Waldron-Smith. Photo / Brett Phibbs

Grieving family members of Dunedin teen Amber-Rose Rush have been getting tribute tattoos to the 16-year-old as they prepare to farewell the "bright and bubbly girl" today.

Amber-Rose,16, was found dead at her Corstorphine home a week ago. A 30-year-old medical professional has been charged with murder.

The tattoo design, which features a bird and flowers, is one Amber-Rose had made before her tragic death, her 18-year-old brother, Jayden, told the Weekend Herald.

"Amber said the bird symbolised freedom.

"It was like a bird with flowers. So my mother and sister had the exact same tattoo done two days ago. My bird is being drawn up as a phoenix."

Jayden described the past few days since his sister's death as "rough", remembering her as a very special member of his family.

"Amber had such a contagious smile," he said. "Everyone who met her always mentions her smile."

Jayden said he had arrived home after midnight last Saturday and knocked on his sister's door but there was no reply so he went to bed.

The following morning he woke up to his mother screaming.

"I ran to Amber's room and told mum to call an ambulance," he said.

Jayden said he checked his sister's vital signs; but she was dead.

Amber-Rose's mother Lisa Ann Rush and her partner are moving into a new home this weekend.

"It was too hard for my mum and all of us to stay there. It's a constant reminder of what happened that night," said Jayden.

Amber-Rose will be farewelled today at Hope and Sons Chapel in Anderson's Bay Rd at 12.30pm.

Mourners have been urged to wear coloured clothing with a family spokesperson saying on Thursday: "Amber loved bright colours, so in respect of her wishes please do not wear black". Amber-Rose's mother posted earlier this week on Facebook that her daughter's death had "killed her entire life".

Amber-Rose Rush (right) and her mother.

"How do I put into words what u mean to me my baby girl, u are literally my other half, my soul, my heart, my everything," she wrote.

Police have this week been searching Blackhead Quarry as part of their investigation and have found an "item of interest". The quarry is 4km from Amber-Rose's Clermiston Ave home.

Earlier this week police issued a call for anyone who may have been in the quarry or beach area between 11.30pm on Friday, February 2 and 12.30am on Saturday, February 3, to get in touch with them.

"In particular, police would like to speak to the occupants of a black Toyota Camry that was in the car park near the pond around this time, and may have witnessed something," Detective Senior Sergeant Rob Hanna said.

The man charged over Amber-Rose's death has been granted interim name suppression and remanded in custody by consent until he appears in the High Court on February 20.