It has been a tragic week of mourning around the world, after the devastating news of the Germanwings plane crash emerged yesterday.

 

With 150 people on board, it quickly emerged in early reports that two babies and 16 teenage students were among those who lost their lives in the Alpine crash.

 

Now, the extent of devastation that the loss of lives has caused has been realised in the heartbreaking statement released by the headmaster of the Joseph Koenig Gymnasium high school, in the German town of Haltern am See.

 

As the school mourns 16 of its students and two of its teachers, Ulrich Wessel said: “On Tuesday last week we sent off 16 happy, young people with two happy, young teachers on a journey. It was meant to be a journey full of joy, a school exchange that we’ve been doing for six years. It ended in tragedy.”

 

 

Close to tears, he added: “Someone asked me how many we have at our school. Without thinking, I answered 1,283. There are actually 16 fewer now. It’s all so horrible that I can hardly find words.”

 

The students were believed to have all been 15 years of age. According to reports, 72 Germans and 49 Spaniards were among the passengers on board the Airbus A320, flying from Barcelona to Dusseldorf.

 

Our hearts go out to all affected by this terrible tragedy.

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