Yahoo News Talented child ballet star, 14, dubbed 'the next Billy Elliot' found dead at family home
A child ballet star dubbed ‘the new Billy Elliot’ was found dead at his home aged 14.
Jack Burns was tipped to be a rising star within Scottish Ballet and had appeared in hit TV show Outlander in 2014.
The dancer, was found hanging at the family home in Greenock, Inverclyde, and rushed to hospital where he was later pronounced dead on December 1.
His death is not being treated as suspicious by police.
He was described as an “inspiration” by his teachers, after taking up dancing seven years ago.
A post on Facebook by the Elite Academy of Dance said: “It is with a very heavy heart that we write this post.
“Tragically as you know we lost our much loved student Jack Burns on Sunday 1st of December.
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“Jack was an inspiration to everyone at Elite and touched the hearts of everyone who had the pleasure of working and dancing with him since 2012.
“We and all of Jack’s family and friends are naturally completely devastated and at a loss for words and answers.”
A Police Scotland spokesman said: “At around 3.30pm on December 1, police were called following the death of a 14-year-old boy within a house in Greenock.
“Enquiries are ongoing to establish the exact cause of his death which police are not treating as suspicious.”
The talented youngster also appeared in ITV thriller In Plain Sight alongside actor Martin Compston, who hails from the same hometown.
Jack trained at the Elite Academy of Dance in Greenock and also at the Royal Conservatoire in Glasgow and drew comparisons with Billy Elliot, a role he auditioned for in 2015.
