Cousins Nathaniel Pritchard and Kelly Stephenson have reportedly become the latest victims in a wave of suicides by young people from the Welsh town of Bridgend.

In common with most of the 14 other deaths in a cluster of apparent copycat suicides in South Wales, their pages on the social networking site Bebo were adorned with rest in peace messages and tributes by this afternoon.

South Wales police confirmed that a 15-year-old boy from Bridgend died today after harming himself on Wednesday, but have not confirmed his identity. Within hours of his attempt at suicide a 20-year-old woman, believed to be his cousin Kelly, who also lived in Bridgend, killed herself while on holiday in Folkestone, Kent.

Kent police said they had found the body of a female. “We can confirm that a 20-year-old woman, staying locally, has been found dead. Her next of kin have been informed.”

The cousins were friends on Bebo and Kelly’s profile was linked to some of the other victims of suicide in Bridgend.

On Nathaniel’s Bebo page, friends posted messages saying “RIP nathaniel boi” and “ur gunna b missed so much butt !!”.

His friends had been using the site to spread news of his health in the two days after he injured himself. One poster, claiming to be another cousin, posted a message announcing that he had died earlier today.

On a linked Bebo page, Kelly Stephenson was also mourned by friends. “Sleep tight Kel, youl be missed xx,” one wrote. Other posts on her message board read: “r.i.p babez. we will miss u!!”, “sweet dreams babe” and “rest in peace”.

On her profile she described herself as a lesbian who loved to go out and have fun with friends and play football and hockey.

South Wales police stressed tonight that they had no evidence that the latest deaths were linked to previous suicides.

“At 21.15pm on February 13, we were called to an address in the Cefn Glas area of Bridgend to a report that a 15-year-old boy had harmed himself,” a spokeswoman said.

“The 15-year-old was taken to hospital. He has since died. The coroner has been informed. The death is being investigated on behalf of the coroner. It is not believed to be suspicious.

“There is no evidence to suggest this incident is linked to any other incidents or sudden deaths in the area.”

The spate of suicides, by 16 young people aged between 15 and 27, has prompted national media interest but also great anguish in South Wales. At least seven of the previous victims are thought to have known each other.

Bridgend Council and education experts have scrambled to set up task forces and focus groups to address the problem. Some local schools set up a team of experts that included teachers, a counsellor, an educational psychiatrist and a child protection officer.

Madeleine Moon, MP for Bridgend, has pledged to take further action. "We will be rolling out suicide-intervention training into schools and colleges," she said.

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