A teenager who died after falling 70 feet into a gorge during a trip in the Australian Outback, is believed to be former Oratory School boy, Alfie Willson.

According to news reports, a 19-year-old is believed to have fallen off a waterfall at Lennard Gorge in the Kimberley Range, of Western Australia, on Sunday.

He was travelling with two friends at the time who tried to resuscitate him for more than an hour, but could not save him.

Headmaster Clive Dytor said: “All pupils and staff at The Oratory School and The Oratory Preparatory School are desperately sad to learn of the tragic death of our former pupil, Alfie Willson.

“Our prayers and sympathies are with Alfie's parents, Andrew and Helen, and with his younger brother and sister. Our prayers and sympathies are also with the two former Oratory School boys who were with Alfie at the time of accident.

“Alfie was a very popular boy at the school. The top art scholar in his year, he was also a very talented sportsman who played 1st XV Rugby and 1st XI cricket.

“Staff and boys were told at school assembly and they were shocked and deeply saddened by the news. Alfie had a wonderful future and his early death is a great loss.

“All our thoughts and prayers are with his family, who are part of a close Oratory community.”

Dr Richard Hillier, headmaster of The Oratory Preparatory School in Goring Heath, near Reading, said: “The thoughts and prayers of the whole school community are with Alfie’s parents and his brother and sister.

“Alfie was a lovely, gentle young man whom staff at the school have known since he was a very young child. We shall do all that we can do to support his family in their loss and we hope that their privacy will be respected.”