Pictured: Female dancer, 19, who died at waterfall beauty spot as parents say 'the world is a little less bright without her'

By ROBERT FOLKER, NEWS REPORTER Published: 15:46, 14 July 2026 | Updated: 15:55, 14 July 2026 The heartbroken parents of a 19-year-old dancer have paid tribute to their daughter who drowned at a beauty spot.  Freya MacLean, 19, died after getting into difficulty in the water at the Falls of Falloch, a 30ft waterfall near Stirling, at around 10.45pm last Friday. The teenager, who had been studying primary education at Glasgow University, was later found at 11.45pm by emergency services. Freya's parents, Samantha and Ruaraidh, have paid tribute to their daughter today, saying that 'the world is a little less bright without her'. Speaking to the Daily Record, Freya's parents said: 'Beloved by family, friends and the wider community, Freya was a truly beautiful soul whose kindness knew no bounds.  'Her warm smile, infectious laughter and caring heart brought comfort and joy to everyone she met. Always generous with her time, she was the friend people turned to, offering unwavering support, encouragement and compassion. 'Her personality lit up every room, and her love, humour and gentle spirit have left an everlasting mark on all who had the privilege of knowing her. Though her time with us was far too short, her legacy of kindness and love will live on forever.' Freya's dance group has set up a GoFundMe page following her death and has raised more than £3000 for her family.  Freya MacLean, 19, died after getting into difficulty in the water at the Falls of Falloch, a 30ft waterfall near Stirlin, at around 10.45pm last Friday The teenager, who had been studying primary education at Glasgow University, was later found at 11.45pm by emergency services Organisers Charlene McDonald and Laura-Jane Gelston wrote: 'Freya truly made such a huge impact on all of our girls.  She was one of those truly special girls who made everyone feel like a friend.  'She had the most infectious personality, a heart full of kindness and supportive to everyone.  She never passed anyone without giving them the warmest smile and was always so cheerful, full of life, and a joy to be around.  'She had the funniest sense of humour, was always making people laugh, and brought so much fun wherever she went.  'Her infectious personality and beautiful spirit lit up every room, and she will be missed more than words can say.'   A Police Scotland spokesperson said: 'The death is being treated as unexplained, but there are no apparent suspicious circumstances.'  Britain's May and June heatwaves are thought to have claimed more than 2,700 lives, with almost half of these deaths said to be fuelled by the changing climate. A study estimates that 550 people died during the exceptionally warm spell at the end of May, with a further 2,200 fatalities linked to the ten-day heatwave in June. Fifteen adults and five youngsters were among those who all lost their lives in water during the May heatwave. Grieving families and rescue charities have urged members of the public to take extreme caution in water and have called for more water safety education in schools. In May, at least three of the victims were said to have been unable to swim or not strong swimmers. From September, it will be compulsory to teach water safety education in Relationships and Sex and Health Education (RSHE) lessons under the school curriculum. Dr Claire Barnes, a research associate in extreme weather and climate change at Imperial College London, argued: 'Every time we have a heatwave, our news is filled with reporters at swimming pools, images of people eating ice cream and sunbathers on beaches. 'We all love the sun, but people need to be aware that we are now seeing dangerous climate-change fuelled heat that is claiming lives, disrupting schools and hospitals and shutting down transport and infrastructure. 'It's time we woke up to the fact that we now live in a country with dangerously hot summers.'