A former top pupil of Southcity Christian College, Jake Bailey-Sloan tragically died after being assaulted in Portadown Town Centre in Ireland on Sunday, October 17.

The news website, Armaghi reported that the 23-year-old collapsed shortly after he was assaulted. He was rushed to hospital but despite the brave and best efforts by doctors, he never regained consciousness.

According to the website, a 22-year-old man had been arrested on suspicion of murder but had been released on bail pending further enquiries. Family and friends from around the world have since paid tribute to the young man’s life His grandparents Davy and Valerie Bailey said that after matric, Jake moved to Ireland and set up the hugely popular ‘The Mill NI’ in 2017.

He worked hard to transform the derelict textile mill on Bleary Road into an indoor adventure centre.

“He got the chance to buy an old linen mill. It had not been used for 17 years and he put such hard work into it. No one knows the blood, sweat and tears that went into it,” they said. He then opened another one in Dublin. “The Mill helped so many young people with problems. The Airsoft teams are one big family.

He loved how the older ones took care of the younger ones. Jake just loved people to be happy and we are just finding out the stories of how he helped so many people old and young.” Danielle Williams, grade head at Southcity Christian College, said Jake was a lively and friendly boy in school. “He always made friends and included everyone of all ages. He was an all-rounder, achieving both academically and on the sports field.

Jake was a true leader from a young age and led in all spheres of school, people were naturally drawn to follow him. He always gave his all in everything he did and did everything with passion. In class, he was an exemplar of a pupil and his gift of the gab is yet to be matched.”

Here are some of his achievements in high school (he matriculated in 2016): Top student at the end of grade 12 with 6A’s and 2 B’s. He placed in the Top 1% for Geography in the country. Amazingly he came to South Africa in grade two without ever speaking a word of Afrikaans, at the end of Grade 12 he was the top Afrikaans student in his grade and achieved an A in the NSC exams.

Jake also achieved a very high mark in the National Physics Olympiad in Grade 12. He was a prefect and the school’s spirit leader in 2016. He captained the 1st team rugby. He played SKZN rugby for U16, U17, U18 and U19. He was chosen and played for the Reitz U19 Rugby side in 2016. Awarded Rugby full colours in 2014, 2015 and 2016.

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