The family of 12-year-old Maisie Gibbins, who died after suffering a brain aneurysm while on holiday, have paid a touching tribute to her.

Maisie, a year 8 pupil at St John’s School in Marlborough, suffered the aneurysm while on a family holiday in Cornwall.

She was rushed to Frenchay Hospital, near Bristol, by air ambulance where surgeons operated on her and she remained in intensive care for three weeks.

However, the damage to her brain more extensive than doctors had hoped and, on November 13, Maisie died with her parents Nick and Lissa, at her bedside.

Maisie lived in Great Bedwyn with her parents, identical twin Isla and younger brothers George and Felix who attend Great Bedwyn Primary School.

A private funeral was held at St Mary’s in Great Bedwyn led by the Venerable Dick Acworth, a cousin of the family.

More than 600 people attended the celebration of Maisie’s life including family and friends from all over the world, villagers and staff from both Frenchay and Bristol Children’s Hospital, where she was also cared for.

During the service children released balloons into the air in Maisie’s memory.

Maisie was a committed and talented member of many sports teams at St John’s and her teammates attend the funeral in their team strips with black armbands.

Maisie’s family donated her organs after her twin sister made it clear that this is what she would have wanted.

“By doing this Maisie has given hope and health to three other young people,” said her parents. They added: “She wouldn’t want anyone to dwell on what has happened, to mope or to use her death as an excuse, she would be the first to dust herself down, run off the limp and get back into the game.”

A collection at the service raised more than £2,500 for Bristol Children’s Hospital in Maisie’s memory.

Further donations to the hospital in memory of Maisie can be made via Dianne Mackinder Funeral Directors in Marlborough.

 

Mr and Mrs Gibbins said: “In her short life she turned her hand to any sport or game she came across, whoever was playing it and wherever it was adding that in the many pictures of her with a ball, on a surfboard, flying a kite, on skis or on a zip wire she looks so happy, so in her element and perfectly at ease with the world.”

They described her as a unique, uncompromising, determined and assured young woman who always demonstrated tremendous love, tenderness and kindness.

Paying tribute at the funeral, Maisie’s parents said: “Hold Maisie in your hearts, hold each other close, lift your heads breathe deep and stride forward.

“Let not the measure of time but the fullness of life be the memory of Maisie.”