appConfigEntityId

bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

isVideo

articlePageQuery

article

articleSchemaContent

content

hooksArticlePageAdvertisementConfigArticle

appConfig

filter

json

liveArticle

Lana Lam

Hundreds of mourners gathered in Stanley yesterday to remember the "amazing" and "deeply loved" daughter of British insurance executive Nick Cousins, who died last week after she jumped from their high-rise flat in Repulse Bay.
Friends and family flew in from as far as Britain and Singapore for the funeral, joining those in Hong Kong who were close to the 15-year-old daughter of Cousins, 58, and his partner Herminia Garcia, 53, who is from the Philippines.
The pair flanked their younger daughter, 14, as they tightly held each other's hands, walking behind the casket as it was carried through the church.
The South China Morning Post is not naming the two daughters due to legal proceedings involving the family.
The older girl's death uncovered an unprecedented story of two sisters who were born in Hong Kong but never registered, so they had no birth certificates or identity documents.
Mourners filled every pew in St Anne's Church for a sombre midday service.
More than 30 flower arrangements lined the Catholic church with messages of condolence from family, friends and the directors of conglomerate Jardine Matheson. Nick Cousins is head of the Hong Kong office of Jardine's insurance unit, Jardine Lloyd Thompson.

"You are with angels now and rest in peace," said one message accompanying a large bouquet of white flowers.
Tears flowed as the younger sister delivered the eulogy.
Fighting back her own tears and with her voice wavering at times, she described the pain that would never subside.
"When I lost her, I not only lost a sister, I lost half a heart," said the 14-year-old, who started her eulogy by describing her older sister as "amazing". She said her sister was always a "shoulder to cry on" and "someone you could go to for advice".
Cousins spoke briefly after his younger daughter, thanking those who had come to show their support.
Seven pallbearers carried the casket which was adorned with dozens of pink roses, with Father John McAuley describing the teenager as "deeply loved".
Garcia, known by friends as Grace, was visibly distraught as she hugged the casket during the final blessing with holy water, breaking down for a few moments before standing up again.

As Cousins made his way to the back of the church to say farewell to mourners, a number of friends stood and stopped him in the aisle to embrace him and whisper words of support.
The hour-long service concluded with a rendition of Amazing Grace.
About a dozen teenage girls who were close to the Cousins family then led a procession to the Stanley waterfront.
They gathered near the rocks jutting out at one end of the promenade and released several dozen bright pink helium-filled balloons decorated with loving messages for their friend.
After it was over, one teenage friend who had known the girl for about five years said the service had been "heartfelt" and that many of her friends were not able to attend because it was exam time at school.
The girl's death in the early hours of April 7 led police to discover that Garcia had overstayed her visa. On April 9, she entered no plea in Eastern Court to one charge each of overstaying and ill-treatment of a child.
Garcia was released on bail but is required to report to Aberdeen police station three times a week and cannot leave the city.
Cousins has been released on police bail after his arrest on suspicion of ill treatment of a child. He is required to report to police at the end of this month and has not been charged.
 


Friends recall ‘amazing’ and ‘deeply loved’ death plunge girl, 15, at Hong Kong funeral

Mourners embrace St Anne's Church in Stanley. Photo: Felix Wong

Mourners arrive at St Anne's Church. Photo: Felix Wong

The girl's friends released pink balloons decorated with loving messages. Photo: Felix Wong

Hong Kong government ‘providing assistance’ to family of death plunge girl, 15

The 15-year-old girl leapt from their 19th-floor flat at 3 Repulse Bay at about 1.45am yesterday. Photo: SCMP Pictures

Nick Cousins, managing director of the Hong Kong branch of Jardine Lloyd Thompson. Photo: SCMP Pictures

Anthony Langridge is overseeing Cousins’ duties during his absence. Photo: Felix Wong

JLT's offices on Wednesday. Photo: Felix Wong

The girl fell to her death from this luxury apartment block in Repulse Bay. Photo: K.Y. Cheng

News

Hong Kong

Education

Hundreds of mourners gathered in Stanley to remember the daughter of British insurance executive Nick Cousins, who died after she jumped from a Repulse Bay high-rise.


.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Hundreds of mourners gathered in Stanley to remember the daughter of British insurance executive Nick Cousins, who died after she jumped from a Repulse Bay high-rise.

Hundreds of mourners gathered in Stanley to remember the daughter of British insurance executive Nick Cousins, who died after she jumped from a Repulse Bay high-rise.