Bermuda’s sports community is mourning the death of Siena Frankson, who died on Saturday.

The 16-year-old, who was named as the island’s third road fatality of the year, was actively involved in netball for her club and school, and had competed in various tennis tournaments and cycling races.

Netball Bermuda has changed its official logo to black across all social media platforms in honour of the youngster, who played for Devonshire Colts Diamonds.

“Our thoughts are with the family, friends and DC Diamonds team-mates of our young netballer Siena Frankson during this difficult time,” the association said.

“May love and memories bring comfort and peace.”

Kimale Evans, the Netball Bermuda president, sent words of comfort to all those impacted by Frankson’s death.

“On behalf of Netball Bermuda, I extend our deepest and heartfelt condolences to everyone at DC Diamonds during this incredibly difficult time,” Evans said.

“The loss you are experiencing is felt far beyond your team. The netball community is a close and supportive family, and we stand united with you in grief, reflection and remembrance.

“Please know that your team-mates, supporters and friends across Bermuda are holding you in our thoughts and prayers.

“DC Diamonds has always exemplified strength, unity and sportsmanship, both on and off the court. It is in that same spirit of togetherness that we encourage you to lean on one another and draw comfort from the bonds that make your team so special.

“May you find peace in the memories you cherish and strength in the love and support that surrounds you.”

Penelope Henry, who coached the late Frankson at Rangers before the team’s name changed to DC Diamonds, spoke of how her former team-mates were anxious about their return to school.

“It’s unbelievable because these girls were so close in school, they’re dreading school on Monday because that’s when it’s going to really hit them,” Henry said.

“This week they’ve been out of school, but then they’re used to seeing each other in the corridors because they all go happy. They all came from Whitney and are now at Berkeley.

“Everybody’s having their moments because we were so closely knit as a team. Berkeley and DC Diamonds is a combination and she was involved in everybody’s life in that way.

“She’s going to be missed because of the seasons that she was with us. If somebody was down, she would always have a joke or she had a way about herself that would bring a smile to anybody’s face.

“She was a versatile player and really game at playing netball. She could play all defensive positions and she could also shoot.”

Bermuda Bicycle Association president Peter Dunne recalled how Frankson was committed to cycling when she was part of the association’s youth programme.

“She was part of our junior programme, run by Chequan Richardson, and I was a part of those sessions,” Dunne said.

“She was an extremely nice young person. The kind of person that you would like to have seen grow up and mature and be a part of the community, regardless of their involvement in sport.

“She was in the under-12 category in 2019 and spent a number of years in a group that isn’t currently active called Bermuda Cycling Academy, which was run by Anton Gilbert.

“I think she aged out of our youth programme last year and then didn’t go into the next level, which was the 15 to 18 year groups.”

Dunne and the cycling community hope Frankson’s death could spur the island into action in trying to reduce road fatalities.

“I’m trying to figure out how to make my voice more public about this because these incidents have not stopped happening,” Dunne said.

“As the Bermuda Bicycle Association, we are disturbed and upset about this because her aunt Earlena Ingham is a member of our executive committee.

“Earlena has sent notes around saying that she spoke Spanish and she was a good artist. All of these great things that she was doing, none of which have anything to do with sport.

“The reality is that what the community is now going to miss is not the next greatest cyclist or the next greatest anything, but we’re going to miss this one person for ever.

Tennis coach Brent Smith, who worked with Frankson when he ran a programme at Grotto Bay before the hotel dismantled the tennis courts, described her as someone who was eager to learn.

“She was always eager to play,” Smith said.

“She was at Whitney, so she would have been between 11 and 13 when I coached her. She would come over every day after school, catch the bus from Whitney and come over and play some tennis with us.

“She was coming along and she had a good spirit. She was very lively, very engaged with her learning and her tennis. I believe she definitely had a future as an athlete and she was committed to whatever she was engaged with.”