Grief over the loss of a young Otago Uni student is expected to be felt by people near and far

Dunedin's student community is in mourning - after 19-year-old Sophia Crestani was believed to have been crushed to death at an out-of-control flat party on Saturday night.

Grief and trauma educator Tricia Hendry says many people who weren't at the party will also be struggling.

She says secondhand trauma is common in tragedies like this.