Tributes have poured in after the death of a Co Down teenager who "won the nation's hearts" last year.
Ellie McDonnell, 16, passed away over the weekend after "pushing herself harder than any human being" following a quad bike accident in July 2019.
The Portaferry school child sustained severe injuries and had to be placed in an induced coma after the crash.
Ellie's mum, Mary McDonnell shared an emotional Facebook tribute to her daughter on Tuesday.
She said: "Ellie is a child that won the nation's hearts and her young friends have shared their heart breaking sadness openly. Ellie over the last 14 months pushed herself harder than any human being. She fought hard to live, she fought hard to get back to riding her ponies.
"Her love for them frightened me, she rode and loved her ponies with passion beyond words. Ellie never showed pain and the accident caused her a lot pain with the numerous surgeries on her brain, the patching up of her skull each time and the shaving of her beautiful hair. Yet she smiled like an angel and carried on.
"Ellie was recovering well and was days away from getting back on her ponies, she was so excited and counting the hours literally. We are in shock and cannot accept she isn't here."
After her accident, Ellie went on to raise awareness for NI Air Ambulance who were dispatched to the scene and transferred her to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast.
Down High School in Downpatrick also paid tribute to their Year 12 pupil on Facebook.
"Ellie’s presence in school will be missed terribly by her teachers and many friends," they wrote.
"We will treasure the precious memories we have of Ellie, as an exceptional student, a star of the school’s equestrian team but mostly as a young person with remarkable kindness, courage and generosity of spirit. Our thoughts and prayers are with Ellie’s parents, brother, the wider family circle and her close friends at this devastating time."
Northern Ireland Welsh Pony and Cob Society described Ellie as "an inspiration to so many".
They said: "Ellie has been an inspiration to so many and leaves behind a huge legacy. We will truly miss seeing her at the shows. We send our heartfelt condolences and sincerest sympathy to her parents Peter and Mary and brother Max at this extremely difficult time."
DUP Councillor Kathryn Owens said: "On behalf of William Walker and myself, I would like to express our deepest sympathies to the friends and family of Ellie McDonnell.
"I know the Down High School community will feel this pain immensely. I also know the Equestrian family will miss her terribly. Thoughts and prayers to all who knew Ellie."
