My thoughts and prayers go out to the family.

Hayley I feel that you are very brave and have lots of courage.
Hayden was a likeable person and you should be proud of your son.
Your son is a hero

My heartfelt respect - hope you carry on getting the support needed at such a tragic time in your lifes.
xxxxxxxxx

lisa, Rainham, KENT

very sorry to learn of the accident and glad that parents were so understanding. It was a horrible experience for all concerned and thoughts must go to the leaders. school trips must continue as an important part of education.

Bernard Manley, Nottingham, England

Mrs Waller is the real hero of this story: she found the courage to avoid blaming the school for her bereavement and accept that sometimes accidents happen.
Thank you Mrs Waller for not succumbing to the blame culture. We need more people like you.

Rowan, Oxford,

Now that the child has died, and is in effect a hero, it is necessary to reconsider the practices of the school. I agree with the New Hampshire writer, Mr. Kirschner. Although my own childhood experiences involved a lot of open air and freedom (in a desert environment), there were times when adults clearly emerged if I got into some dangerous places, even though their watching was unobtrusive. Even though the Austrian spokesman talks (after the fact) of having gotten into scrapes as a child, in other words, not blaming the boys (who are indeed only acting instinctively), the environment was a foreign one, and as someone noted, darkness fell quickly. Somebody needs to keep track of the kids, unobtrusively and with some ground-rules to be internalized by them. It has been a sad learning experience for all. With this in mind, the boy's parents are right to send their other son along for future outings. But how does the remaining son feel about this?

Dianne Foster, Newton, MA USA

I am angry with anyone here who suggests this was preventable, predictable or a lack of common sense. Do you people have children? do you watch them all the time? because if you do then you will make them into some sort of perverted mock human being.

Common sense is a local thing. Out of your own environment where you grow up it is easier to make a mistake.

Much sympathy for the family and much respect for their human realist attitude.

glyn hodges, hereford,

Mountains are dangerous places and one should never ever just go wandering alone.

Never start a mountain walk as it begins to get dark unless you really know what you are doing... basic common sense...

Dave Smith, Geneva, CH

i am so devistated for you hayden, i will allways be thinking of you and i will neva forget you i put flowers outside the school for you xxxx you should of just got someone to come and help your friend and should of kept yourself safe but you decided to risk your life and save your friend xxxxxxxx

shannon, rainham, england

x Hayden was da best thats what i have heared from all my friends and i know he was loved and always will be these accidents are horrible and no one wants them to happen. Hayden will always be remembered as a hero im sure of it and he will forever be loved hes that loveable person ! R.I.P Hayden x my thoughts go to his family and closest friends

emma, gillinham , kent

i go to rainham girls which is right next doors to howard. i knew hayden for saying hello but not that much. I have friends i know who were very close to him. we will miss you hayden rip. i will always be thinking of you

lizie, rainham, enland

i knew him he was a gd m8 we will miss u . i will flowers for u mon bi xxxxxxxxx

lizie, rainham, england

My son goes to the school and as other people as well as Hayley Waller herslef has said, no one is to blame. It is a terrible accident. Maybe they shouldn't have gone off on their own but boys will be boys. My thoughts are with all the family. RIP sweetheart xx

kelly, rainham, kent,

Theres no-one to blame. Hayden died a hero; bidding to save a friend. Many of my friends are heartbroken and devestated - he was such a popular boy. My thoughts are with the Wallers.

rip hayden xxxxxxx

an., Gillingham, Kent

Been a climber \ mountaineer for many years. I started out as a child by doing the same sort of thing - exploring where I probably shouldn't, without "those in charge" knowing (they'd only have stopped me).
When I got older, I was fortunate enough to attend a school that had an active outdoor pursuits club, and the staff taught me to respect the mountains, and how to stay safe.
Makes me proud to hear that Hayden tried to save another's life, ultimately sacrificing his own, in an age when supposedly elite mountaineers walk past the dying near the summit of Everest, without rendering any assistance. These people could learn much from the selfless act of a 12 year old boy.
It is a terrible tragedy that Hayden lost his life. He shouldn't have been there, but he was. Let's not use this as the reason to extinguish the spirit of adventure in children. The world is a better place with the daring and the bold.

W Smith, Manchester,

Hard to know what to think about this sad story. Should the boys have been allowed to go off alone (?) on a mountainside in winter conditions with only a few hours of daylight left? Should a teacher have been present? There was an average one teacher per 5-6 children on the trip.

Alicia, Rome, Italy

I knew hayden, we have been mates for years, since we were 4. and i am now 13, to say that we are devestated would be an understatement! he was one of those boys that everyone knew and everyone loved, he will never be forgotten, and our hearts will all beat love for him forever, he died a hero, and we are so proud of him, he is so amazing, ""remember the cinema hayden, woooooop, how funny, that day" .....
no matter who he was with he would still come and say hello and he was always there for me, and i am so thankful that i new him! well done Hayley And Gary for raising a hero, we all love him beyond words and we are always here if u need a hand to hold!! HAYDEN! WE LOVE U! Love From Cera!!

Cera, Rainham, UK

I have the utmost respect for the way the parents have dealt with this and havn't immediately pointed the finger at the teachers to take the blame as usually happens in these situations.

R.I.P Hayden who died a Hero.

Rhythm Travis, Maidenhead,

I am outraged to read that some people think this was predictable and preventable!! Even with a wealth of experience, you cannot prevent children doing what they do best. It is natural instinct to explore. This is a very tragic incident, and my heartfelt wishes go out to the family, fellow school friends, and the teachers that organised the trip. The teachers should seek comfort in the fact that they were not to blame in such an unfortunate and heart-rending event.

Emily Moss, Bromley, Kent

Does Mr Ralph Kirshner want a medal? It sounds as though he is the worlds best teacher!
I think the saying goes "Boys will be Boys" and if they wanted to disappear from the teachers then there are always countless opportunities to do it. This is a tragic accident and nothing more. The boys own parents have stepped up to the plate and said as much and that takes enormous courage. If they can do so I think the rest of us have little place to comment, particularly so soon after the event. My thoughts are with the family and indeed the teachers who tried in vain to rescue the poor lad. A horrifying experience also for his classmates. Some people would do well to remember that.

Chris Kember, Beckenham, Kent

what a hero, shame it ended in tragedy :( there should be more people like Hayden Waller in this world, all the best for the Waller family for the future sorry to hear about the loss, R.I.P Hayden Waller, you deserve a medal for act of heroizm and bravery.

leigh shepherd, wakefield, england

It's funny how people come on here and hark on about who's to blame blah blah blah, yet the mother of this poor lad has held her head high and acted with complete dignity and not atrributed blame to any party at all which is incrediby brave of her. God, show some respect people. Their family are the ones who will feel the pain for years to come . My deepest sympathy goes out to them.

Stuart, Gillingham, Kent

i thinck that his mother is right all he tried to do is help one of his friends and save there lives no one is to blame.

chenice, kent, england

My Sympathies to the family and freinds for their loss.. Acording to the story this young man is a hero for trying to save his friend. And it appears to be a horrible accident. When I was young I would also go out adventuring with some of my friends. It is just boys acting like boys (young anf fearless). When we are young we do not always follow the rules.There is no blame to be placed it was an accident truly tragic but an accident.

Ryan, Denver, Colorado

Unfortunately, this incident was predictable and preventable. I taught 12-year olds in the classroom for 4 years, then outdoors for decades, and out of thousands never lost a child for more than 5 minutes. Classroom teachers, no matter how good inside a school, are not trained or qualified in outdoor education. Rule number one outdoors is that children are NEVER left unsupervised out of sight, with constant head counts required. 12-year olds without mature judgment will go beyond their capabilities. I'm sure the kids were having fun; I was when I nearly blinded another boy when I was twelve and we were off in the woods during a "break." Free time is necessary, but it needs to be in defined areas with available optional activities. The rest of the time, keep the kids busy and counted. Accidents happen, but with suitable supervision they should be minor. I'm now too old to keep up with the energy of the kids during fourteen-hour days. Did these teachers realize their limitations?

Ralph Kirshner, New Hampton, New Hampshire USA

everyone! you have read the news and heard the other now hush. a little boy has died doing what little boys always do, which is being being curious and having an adventure. Nobody is to blame. its just a sad tragedy. my heartfelt respect and wish for continued comfort to the parents of such a brave young man.

ian davies, rotherham, yorkshire

We live in a society where if we trip over a 1 inch high paving stone there is someone to blame. In the mountains there are all sorts of dangers that one does not experience in the High Street. The children on this skiing trip and people reading about it will now realise that in the wild outdoors there are many places that are dangerous. The lesson that should be learnt is respect for the natural mountainous environment whether that is; altitude, temperature, wind chill, ravines and crevasses, lack of immediate medical facilities and all the other factors that can kill you. I hope that this accident, for that is what it was, encourages other leaders of trips to the high places to try to reinforce to those in their care that mountains require RESPECT. Getting boys of 12-18 to understand that is maybe a different matter, but the leaders should try, & some boys will now understand.

John Fulwood, Alford, Lincs

How impressed and grateful I am to the mother of this poor boy. If we want our children to have adventure and have the same memorable childhoods we were entitiled to we need to stop wrapping them in cotton wool and let them learn for themsleves.

Amy, Joetsu, Japan

People should be guided by the comments of the family in this instance. They have lost their much loved child, nothing will change that, if they can see past that pain and anguish and say that the school and teachers were not responsible then people should accept that. There is nothing to be gained from pointing the finger at those that accompanied the group. An overseas school trip can be an enriching and life changing experience for a child. Tragedy can strike anywhere, whether you have your child with you or you have entrusted their car in another. Do people really think that schools do not realise the onerous tasks they face. I am not a teacher but a parent who thinks that school staff who are prepared to do these trips do a brilliant job in the face of a lot of criticism

Alison Ward , Rochester, Kent , England

My son went on this trip last year with the Howard School. The teachers who accompany the boys on the trip are very professional and the safety of them all is paramount. All the boys were given strict instructions of do's and don'ts on arrival at the resort, which included venturing into unauthorised areas. Where this tragic accident happened was one of them. Unfortunately this group of boys did not take notice of these instructions and took it upon themselves to still climb the mountain resulting in the most awful of tragedies. Although there are sufficient teachers on the trip, the boys are trusted with a little free time on a daily basis to explore the resort, this is all part of the adventure of the trip away. The teachers on this trip should not be blamed for Haydens death, it is an adventure that went tragically wrong!

Stephen, Gillingham, Kent, England

Sorry to upset the apple cart. This was very aviodable, this was not a freak accident, this was akin to going to a safari park and not telling people that getting out of the car is inherently dangerous. The problem is that the teachers don't know either, why would they? The schools wont pay for specialist outdoor people. Is it the hoteliers problem? The ski schools have insurance for the time spent in ski school but this is only from 10:00 till 15:00 and then their resposibility is over. There is an Alpine code and the Austrian Apline club (Alpenverein) would be only be too happy to explain to all who would listen what the issues are. Is it being asked for?

I listened once to one of these guys who said that skiing when the avalance lights were flashing was dangerous, yeah yeah we all said, we know that. Then he said that if life meant so little then walk backward blindfolded across a six lane motorway, our chances of survival were higher. We listened then!

Gareth Davies, Munich, Germany

Karen.... kids will be kids. You can't wrap them up in cotton wool and let them out when they are eighteen.

They were given free time. What is the alternative? They get locked in their rooms when not "doing" something?

It IS tragic but trying to apportion "blame" when none exists does everybody a dis-service. Accidents DO happen despite our best efforts.

Maybe if children were left to run around a bit more then they may have been more aware of the dangers and of their own limits.

My sympathies lie with the family of this very brave and adventurous and brave little man.

Lance, Crawley, UK

The staff accompanying such a visit have conflicting dilemas. Do they confine the children to the Hostel/Hotel or the village boundries. How free is free time. If you confine them to the building,some (how many depends upon the dynamics of the group) will run around being a nuisance to guests and staff. At the same time you want children to enjoy themselves and learn independence.
Many professionals regard the risks as being too great and as a result out of school trips are getting rare. A body of experience is being lost to the detriment of staff and students.
I have run, and participated in leading several trips and fortunately any mishaps have been minor. You look them in the eye, ask them where they are going and negociate a time for their return. Boys in general do not perceive risk in the same way that Girls do - although this changes with the times. It may have been that the teacher said to them stay together and look after one another. Thoughts are with Hayden's family.

Ed Purkis, Lichfield, UK

My thoughts and prayers are with the Wallers, This is so tragic, and what a brave little soul he was, trying to save his friend.

Jenny, Grand Rapids, MI, US

Why weren't the guardians of the kids watching them? Why were they allowed to go off on their own in a foreign country? I'm sorry for the boys death but obviously the parents and the teachers weren't looking after the kids at the time of the accident.

Karen, Gillingham Kent,

We are English,but live here in Mallnitz.
I heard the tragic news this morning. My heartfelt sympathies go to the parents,family,and friends of the boys.
"Boys will be boys" as I know from my own children.
And even if you forbid something,you cant be sure they will obey,luckily for us,ours survived their "adventures

As I understand it the boys took it into their heads to reach the view-point. We can see from our house and I can
understand very well, the temptation and the challange.
Not being local,I'm sure they had no idea of the dangers involved,(greater as they did not use the official path,
and also crossed a barrier (which meant the path they did take, was officially closed)

They probably also had no idea how quickly (because of the mountains shadow) darkness would overtake them.


Who could have forseen that the boys would think of visiting this look out? No one.
I believe it was simply a tragic accident,as a result of a youthful sense of adventure

Anita Portsmouth, Mallnitz, Austria

Why oh why are these children not inculcated with deep respect for the dangers of the mountains? I lived, walked and skiied in the Alps for over 25 years, and the first thing I was taught was to closely follow the guide/instructor and to be aware of the unseen dangers (such as crevasses - particularly on the famous Mont Blanc). It seems in this instance that the children went off on their adventure at a perilously dangerous time of day - when temperatures drop radically and light fails. Sadly this was a very unavoidable tragedy.

Sue Shaw, Morpeth, Northumberland