A young teaching assistant has been described as the “sweetest and kindest soul” following her tragic death aged 20.

Animal lover Emilia Marsh, who worked at the Canterbury Academy, took her own life at home on November 3.

In a heartfelt post on Facebook, her mum Sukina Fagg paid tribute to her “beautiful, kind, sassy, bossy, beautiful girl”, and urged people to be kind and attentive to their loved ones.

“No one knows what is going on behind someone’s smile,” she wrote. “So check in on people, be kind and always tell people around you, you love them.

“We are mum and daughter and we bickered but my goodness did we love each other, and said it after after every conversation and message between us.

“My darling Mils, even though right now I want to be with you so badly I know I have to be strong and take you to see the world you hadn’t got to see, and do everything in my power to stop even one person doing this and get more help for those suffering.

“Until we meet again, sleep tight baby girl, you keep telling them what to do up there just like you did down here.

"You’ll always be my biggest achievement in life and I’ll love you forever and some."

Emilia’s death has prompted an outpouring of tributes and messages from hundreds of people whose lives were touched by the “selfless, sweet, funny, and extremely kind” young woman.

Her uncle, Adam Fagg, said: “Millie was much more than just my niece; she was my little buddy and I am so incredibly proud of the beautiful woman she became.

“It is such a tragic time for everyone that loved Millie, and the memories of a beautiful, happy and incredibly sassy girl are ones I will treasure forever.”

Emilia’s family now hope to raise awareness of suicide and the often hidden nature of mental illness.

'Emilia was a little ray of sunshine; she honestly was the sweetest and kindest soul...'

“Please call loved ones, be kind and remember everyone is fighting their own battles,” urged Mr Fagg.

After leaving college, Emilia, of The Street, Boughton, worked at Dogs Trust Canterbury, before leaving to become a teaching assistant earlier this year.

“Millie was so hugely passionate about the Dogs Trust and absolutely adored it there,” her uncle recalled.

“On a weekly basis she would send requests to her mum asking if she could bring a dog home. She was so caring, she wanted to save them all!

“Eventually she did adopt Cranberry, a gorgeous dachshund that was her absolute world.”

'We will remember Emilia as a selfless, sweet, funny, and extremely kind girl...'

Joanna Stuckey, assistant manager at Dogs Trust Canterbury, says the centre has been left “heartbroken” by Emilia’s death.

“Emilia was a little ray of sunshine; she honestly was the sweetest and kindest soul,” she said.

“She started her career here at Dogs Trust Canterbury as an apprentice and worked really hard to complete her course, which she did with flying colours before becoming a canine carer.

“Emilia loved working with animals. It was clear to see from how much she put into building relationships with the dogs in our care.

“We will remember Emilia as a selfless, sweet, funny, and extremely kind girl.

“In fact, there is nothing that we could write that would do her justice.

“We are all heartbroken by this terrible loss and thinking of Emilia’s family and friends.”

The executive principal of Canterbury Academy, Jon Watson, says the school’s directors and staff are “deeply saddened” by Emilia’s death.

He continued: “Emilia joined The Canterbury Academy in 2014 as a student, returning to The Canterbury Primary School as a teaching assistant in September 2020.

“As a caring and compassionate person, she had begun to make a positive impact on both the staff and young people that she worked with. Those who knew Emilia, and worked closely

with her, understand that The Canterbury Multi-Academy Trust has lost a most likeable and much admired former student and valued member of staff.

“The directors and staff wish to express their sincere condolences to her family, who will be trying to deal with such a tragic event at this most difficult of times.”

An inquest into Emilia’s death opened on Monday. A full inquest is expected to take place on March 12 next year.

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