The family and classmates of a 10-year-old girl have been left devastated after she died in freak circumstances while trying to blow up a balloon at a children’s birthday party.

Parents and youngsters attending the lively party at a community hall were left shocked and horrifed after little Clarice Harron, from near Castlederg in Co Tyrone, choked on the balloon when it became lodged in her throat.

Tragedy unfolded at Spamount Community Hall on Saturday when a party was being held to mark the birthday of one of Clarice’s pals. She is understood to have been trying to blow up the balloon when it got sucked into her throat.

A local doctor was called to the scene as desperate attempts were made to resuscitate the P7 pupil. The Ambulance Service last night confirmed they received a call to attend at 4.18pm and were at the scene 11 minutes later.

Paramedics and the doctor spent a further 20 minutes working on Clarice before she was rushed to Londonderry’s Altnagelvin Hospital. Resuscitation efforts continued there until she was pronounced dead at 5.45pm.

Clarice, from Glenview in Killen just outside Castlederg, was a pupil from Edwards Primary School and had been due to celebrate her own 11th birthday yesterday.

Close family friend UUP councillor Derek Hussey said her parents Gerard and Davina and three older siblings were distraught over what had happened.

He said: “I was up with the family just now and today would have been her birthday and that has added to their pain and grief.

“They are completely distraught. This was a horrendous tragedy. Clarice's two brothers and sister are also devastated. She was the youngest of the family.”

Mr Hussey said the news had caused “widespread feeling of total disbelief and shock that this has happened”.

“For a young girl to lose her life whilst having fun it is absolutely unbelievable. There has been a tsunami of shock that has gone through the community,” he added.

Reverend Alan Peek, rector of Derg Parish Church, said: “The sudden and tragic death of Clarice is a devastating blow to her family and our first priority is to care for and to support them in their grief.

“But Clarice's untimely death is also a shocking blow to our wider community in Castlederg — not least for her fellow pupils in P7 along with staff, parents and governors at Edwards Primary School, and also her church family here in Derg Parish.”

Reverend Peek described Clarice as a “bubbly, happy 10-year-old girl, with an infectious smile and a zest for life”.

“Several of her classmates today said that Clarice definitely had the ‘X Factor'. She was due to celebrate her 11th birthday on Monday and her death will now leave a huge gap in the lives of so many people.

“We are praying for God's loving comfort for mum and dad and siblings Leanda, Gary and Alan. Castlederg has a broken heart today.”

The Western Education and Library Board's Critical Incident Response Team has been deployed to offer support to pupils and staff at Edwards Primary School.

WELB chief executive Barry Mulholland extended his deep and sincere sympathy on behalf of board members and staff to the Harron family.

Fr Colm O'Doherty from St Patrick's Church described Clarice's death as “heartbreaking”.

He said: “It is terrible, an awful situation, dreadful, a complete freak accident and that is all we can describe it as.”

Clarice Harron's funeral will take place at St John's Church of Ireland Parish Church, Castlederg, tomorrow.