Kiwi confirmed dead in Norway shootings

AP

CONFIRMED DEAD: Sharidyn Svebakk-Bohn.

Reuters

IN CUSTODY: Norwegian Anders Behring Breivik (L), the man accused of a killing spree and bomb attack in Norway.

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The parents of a New Zealand-born teen killed in the Norway massacre have described their daughter as courageous and caring.

Sharidyn Svebakk-Bohn, 14, known as Sissi, was the youngest of 13 victims named today by Norwegian police.

Svebakk-Bohn was born in Palmerston North, where her mother Vanessa Svebakk was from, and had been living in Norway since she was a baby.

She was killed during a shooting rampage at the summer camp for AUF, the youth wing of Norway's ruling Labour Party, on Utoya Island on Friday (local time), five days after celebrating her birthday.

Gunman Anders Behring Breivik has confessed to the shootings and attacks on the government quarter in Oslo in which at least 76 people were killed.

Svebakk-Bohn's parents, who live in Drammen, released a statement expressing their "sorrow and grief" today after receiving news of her death.

The statement was posted to a Facebook group created in her memory by her mother Vanessa.

"Our beloved daughter, Sharidyn Svebakk-Bohn, was confirmed dead earlier today.

"She was a beautiful, caring and vigorous girl and was the oldest child of three.

"Sharidyn was a courageous young lady who took every challenge with ease. One of her strongest qualities was her ability to care for others.

"She was a proud big sister to her two younger sisters, and she loved to care for them as a big sister.

"With her big heart she had a lot of empathy for others, she was loyal and very good at giving support and comfort when others were facing difficulties. Her smile could light up a whole room, and she made everyone she met smile as well."

Her parents said she was "extremely excited" about going to the camp for the first time after being a member of AUF for the last year or so.

"From telephone conversations and a constant flow of text messages in the days leading up to her death, we know that she loved being together with her friends on the island which is why it is difficult to comprehend that her life ended so tragically."

Her parents said she was the type of girl who got involved in causes, writing letters and voicing her opinion.

"We as her parents were extremely proud of her. Now she has been taken away from us, and our sorrow and grief is bottomless.

"It is impossible to describe the excruciating pain that we have felt as we have waited for news from the authorities.

"But we are comforted by the knowledge that our daughter has been found and identified."

They asked for media to respect their privacy as they dealt with her loss and prepared to lay her to rest.

"We will forever cherish the memory of our beautiful and beloved daughter."

Her family asked that instead of flowers and gifts, people could donate money to the Drammen kids' camp.

Norway's Labour MP Torgeir Micaelsen, who was a close of friend of the family, said he was with the parents when Svebakk-Bohn was confirmed dead by police.

"They are obviously very sad, but they are also relieved that she was found and that they have the knowledge that their daughter was identified.

"The family is together, well taken care of, but they are obviously in deep sorrow," he said.

Svebakk-Bohn had an online blog called Purple In Style that was based on the life of a not-so-normal girl, and she last posted to it on July 20 - two days before she was killed.

She wrote about the new friends she had made at the camp, how heavy her bag was and tips on what to bring next time.

- © Fairfax NZ News