The body of a missing 16-year-old girl was found late Tuesday night in the water off Dallas Road.

The death of Freya Milne, enrolled in Esquimalt High School’s Challenge program for extraordinarily gifted students, was mourned throughout the region Wednesday. Foul play is not suspected.

The Victoria resident was found at about 11 p.m. last night in 20 feet of water in Ross Bay. The Greater Victoria Integrated Dive Team pulled her body from the ocean just before 1 a.m.

Father Peter Ronald, provincial co-ordinator for the B.C. Sustainable Energy Association, posted a note on Facebook Wednesday about Freya.

“Thank you to everyone for your love and concern,” Ronald wrote. “Freya was an exceptional human being and remains an indomitable spirit.”

Following his words, friends left messages of heartfelt condolences for the family and tributes to Freya whom was described as: Bright light, star, eloquent, inspiring, sage, brilliant, gifted, and a wonderful daughter.

One woman summed up the outpouring of comments saying, “she was a gift to the world that will leave an everlasting mark on us all.”

Al Rycroft, wrote in an email: “From the very beginning, her life began with great joy and spiritual reverence, born of a loving mother and father.

“She was a precocious child full of life and curiosity, and later grew to become an intelligent and wise young woman. We will miss you forever, Freya.”

Greater Victoria School District’s Associate Superintendent Pat Duncan said the district’s Critical Incident Response Team was sent to Esquimalt High School Wednesday morning.

Separate safe rooms for teachers and students to seek counselling were set up.

Counsellors will be available as long as they are needed, Duncan said.

“Freya was a gifted student,” Duncan said. “We are deeply saddened and our hearts and thoughts go out to the family.”

Freya Milne’s parents said she struggled with an anxiety disorder.

She was last seen at 9 p.m. Monday. Her father and stepmother awoke the next morning to find their daughter was missing from her Fairfield home. She left a note.

An exhaustive ground and water search was launched. Search and rescue personnel from the Provincial Emergency Program combed through Beacon Hill Park. A Canadian Coast Guard helicopter swept over the land and sea.

By late Tuesday night the 16-year-old was found and family were notified.

“It’s very sad,” said Victoria police spokesman Sgt. Grant Hamilton . “We so wanted to bring her home safe and alive to her family. Our hearts go out to them.”

ceharnett@tc.canwest.com