Teenager who got Katy Perry wish dies

Friday, 10 June 2016 00:00

The teenage girl who was at the centre of a social media storm involving an American popstar has died.

13-year-old Sophie Birtles passed away yesterday morning at Rebecca House Hospice - she had the rare genetic disorder Juvenile Sandhoff Disease.

In May the local community rallied on social media to get popstar Katy Perry to record her a video message - the campaign, which was personified by the hashtag #you'reafireworksophie, went viral.

Her funeral will be held on Tuesday at St Ninian's Church in Douglas - anyone attending has been asked to wear bright colours.

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