Family and friends are still reeling from the news that 14-year-old Rhiana Moore, described as a "gem", was discovered dead in the mangroves of Hamilton Parish.

A member of the public came across her body while walking along the Blue Hole Hill nature reserve shortly before 11 a.m. on Saturday. Police have not ruled out foul play and confirmed one man has been arrested.

They would reveal little else due to the sensitive nature of Rhiana's death.

Her aunt, Andrea Wainwright, said the family were meeting their Pastor yesterday and were not yet prepared to speak to the media.

"It is still so fresh we can't even think properly," she said. "We are up and down. It's just devastating.

"She was a beautiful person, inside and out."

Rhiana was the first baby born in Bermuda on Christmas Day of 1993.

She born at 5.30 a.m., weighing five pounds, 13 ounces and was the first child of Julieann Wainwright and Rhohan Moore. She has a younger sister aged ten.

The well-liked youngster, who attended bible studies regularly, was described as a "gem" by her high school principal Kalmar Richards in a statement from the Ministry of Education.

"This is a very difficult time, but we are coping," she said.

"We are a family here at CedarBridge Academy and when a family loses a member of the family, it is a very painful experience. We have lost a 'gem' and a young woman who had the potential to do great things for our country. "

I want to publicly extend my sympathies to Rhiana's family and friends, those very close friends she had here in our school and our extended family of schools throughout the Island. I ask the community to remember all of us in their prayers today.

"Many people in Hamilton Parish were still shocked over the fact that such a tragic incident happened nearby.

A waitress at Swizzle Inn which is within walking distance from where the 14-year-old's lifeless body was discovered said the restaurant was quiet on Saturday and staff had become concerned when several Police cars with sirens sped past them.

Police vehicles were seen leaving the scene at approximately 10.30 p.m. on Saturday.

The area off Blue Hole Hill where the body was found was still marked as a Police crime scene yesterday under Police guard and should not be approached by water either.

Meanwhile teachers and students gathered with grief counsellors at CedarBridge Academy at 2 p.m. yesterday.

The staff have held two meetings over the course of the weekend to ensure they are equipped to assist students returning to school this morning to face the death of a classmate.

Support groups have been set up in CedarBridge's library for parents, in the guidance meeting room for students and in room S113 for close friends of the deceased.

These groups will provide counselling for the duration of the week and as long as required.

Minister of Education Randolph Horton will address staff at the school this morning at 8.15.

Yesterday Mr. Horton said: "I am deeply saddened and my heart goes out to the her family, her friends, the principal, teachers, staff and students of the CedarBridge Academy.

"When something like this happens, we all feel it. I have received reaction to this from every corner of the Ministry and from those in our community who feel the hurt when we in the schools are hurting.

"I believe these extensions of condolence are reflections of a realisation that this could have been any school, any one of our institutes of learning, public or private.

"We must pull together and provide support for each other, especially those close to her at the CedarBridge Academy."