Friends and family have taken to Facebook to mourn a 14-year-old boy who died after after falling through a shade sail at a Lismore school.

Rhys Holland and three friends were at Wyrallah Road Public School during the school holidays on Sunday 30th September.

According to police, the Trinity College student was trying to retrieve balls from the shade sail when it tore.

He fell two metres to the ground and suffered severe head injuries.

Lismore acting Inspector Brad Walpole told Fairfax: "They thought he was mucking around when he didn't get up at first.

"It was just three or four kids mucking around, as simple as that. Certainly, it's just a ... terrible accident."

After being transferred from Lismore Base hospital to Brisbane Mater Children’s hospital, the Goonellabah resident died on Friday night.

Friends spoke of him being a friend to many who loved “mucking around”.

A Facebook tribute page has had over 2000 likes since Friday, one friend saying: “You touched many hearts Rhys, you were an inspiration to many.”

Another friend commented: “If only you could see Rhys, what people are saying about you, for you, and how much they love you.“