Thirteen-year-old Archie Hunt died from head and chest injuries sustained in a four-storey fall from a railing at Sydney’s Queen Victoria Building on Sunday.

The Year 7 pupil, who was shopping with family at the time of the incident, had just completed his second term at Farrer Memorial Agricultural High School.

Farrer’s relieving principal, Clint Gallagher, said Archie, a day student at the selective public school, was a keen rugby union player who enjoyed studying agriculture.

He said the entire Farrer school community had the Hunt family in its thoughts.

“There is no more difficult or tragic event than the death of a child,” he said. 

“Our sincere condolences and deepest sympathy are extended to the Hunt family.

“Tributes to Archie have been flowing from our school family, who have been remembering him fondly as a really lovely young man who has made a real impact in the two terms he spent at our school.

“Archie is remembered as an enthusiastic student who was a delight to have in class. He was polite, respectful, friendly and mixed well with others.”

Mr Gallagher said the school had contacted the parents of its students, who are on school holidays, to alert them to the tragedy.

He said pupils would be offered support and counselling to help them come to terms with the sudden death of their friend.

Archie was a popular member of the Merewether Carlton Rugby Union Club in Newcastle and senior club president Stephen Reid said the players were “shocked”.

He said the club’s junior and senior players would wear black armbands during their July 11 games in respect and remembrance for the teenager.

“We’re absolutely devastated and will do whatever we can to support Archie’s family and his team-mates affected by this tragedy,” he said.

Witnesses claim Archie was possibly trying to slide down a banister at the historic CBD shopping centre on Sunday afternoon when he lost his balance.

Police said the incident, which they described as a “heart-breaking accident”, was captured on CCTV cameras and the footage would be provided to the coroner.

A spokesperson for the Queen Victoria Building, which dates back to 1898, said management extended “sincere condolences to the victim’s family”.

“We are deeply saddened by this incident and will continue to work with the NSW Police Force on the matter,” the statement read.