Robert F. Kennedy’s granddaughter Saoirse has died at the age of 22, her family have confirmed in a heartbreaking statement.
According to multiple reports, Saoirse – who was the daughter of Courtney Kennedy Hill and granddaughter of the late Robert F Kennedy and his wife Ethel – passed away after suffering a suspected drug overdose at the Kennedy Compound on Cape Cod.
“Our hearts are shattered by the loss of our beloved Saoirse,” the Kennedy family said in a statement, according to WJAR. “Her life was filled with hope, promise and love.”
They reportedly added: “She cared deeply about friends and family, especially her mother Courtney, her father Paul, her stepmother Stephanie, and her grandmother Ethel.”
According to People, her grandmother Ethel added: “The world is a little less beautiful today.”
The statement went on: “She lit up our lives with her love, her peals of laughter and her generous spirit. Saoirse was passionately moved by the causes of human rights and women’s empowerment and found great joy in volunteer work, working alongside indigenous communities to build schools in Mexico. We will love her and miss her forever.”
Paramedics were reportedly called to the family compound to reports of a suspected drug overdose around 2.30pm on Thursday (local time), where they found a patient in cardiac arrest.
While the patient was then rushed to Cape Cod Hospital, she was tragically later pronounced dead.
According to multiple US reports, Saoirse was found in the home belonging to her grandmother.
Assistant District Attorney Tara Miltimore, of the Cape & Islands District Attorney’s Office, has since confirmed to the news outlet that the tragic incident is now being investigated.
“Earlier this afternoon Barnstable Police responded to a residence on Marchant Ave in Hyannis Port for a reported unattended death,” Miltimore said. “The matter remains under investigation by Barnstable Police and State Police detectives assigned to the District Attorney’s Office.”
According to 7 News’ Boston reporter Eric Kane, Saoirse was a student at Boston College and set to graduate next year.
Tributes have begun flooding in online, with one Twitter user writing: “So sorry for their loss,” while another added: “Saying a prayer— absolutely heartbreaking.”
And one wrote: “Very sad. May she Rest In Peace.”