New | Sandra D’Auriol: tributes to late Hong Kong socialite from charity she co-founded
Jewellery designer and philanthropist hailed as a 'mentor and a friend' to Child Welfare Scheme, which works with children in Nepal
A children’s charity co-founded by a Hong Kong socialite who plunged to her death from the top floor of a Los Angeles medical clinic says it has lost a “mentor and a friend”.
The Nepal-based Child Welfare Scheme paid tribute to jewellery designer and philanthropist Sandra D’Auriol, who died on January 22.
Zein Williams, a director of the charity, said D’Auriol left many achievements and accomplishments.
“She always wanted to leave the world in a better place,” Williams said.
The charity said it was angered by “inaccurate” reports and speculation surrounding the lead-up to D’Auriol’s death, adding that the group “all realised they needed to put the facts on paper”, without elaborating further.
Quoting the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office, CBS News reported that D’Auriol went to the top of the Camden Medical Arts building in Beverly Hills last Wednesday, hours after having plastic surgery. Despite attempts by police to talk her down, she plunged to her death three hours later. She was naked when her body was found.
Born in India to British parents, D’Auriol, 53, moved to Hong Kong in 1983 and had been associated with CWS since 1999. Her jewellery, with a focus on jade, was exhibited in London, Paris, New York and Milan, with all the profits donated to children’s, women’s and environmental charities, including CWS.