A young girl died this morning whilst sitting in her classroom at the C.V.Bethel High School on East Street South. Unconfirmed reports reveal, that the young girl suddenly slouched whilst sitting at her desk. Sources at the school said the young school girl had just a day earlier attended medical doctors as a result of some complaints.
Various government agencies responded quickly to a medical emergency Thursday (October 18, 2007), which ended in the death of 15-year-old student Samantha Mais, a press release from the Ministry of Education, Youth, Sports and Culture stated.
According to the release, the school’s Principal was alerted to a situation in a classroom, at 9 a.m. On arrival to the class, it was determined that Mais was experiencing a medical emergency.
At 9:10 a.m., an ambulance was called, arriving at the school at 9:45 a.m. In the interim, school administrators attempted to administer CPR while awaiting medical personnel from the South Clinic (which is one compound away) who were called to the scene.
Officers from the nearby South Beach Police Station, led by Officer-in-Charge Inspector Stephen Dean, were called to the scene and immediately launched an investigation into the matter, the release stated.
Medical personnel from ambulance services determined that Mais was not responding, and declared her dead at the scene.
Additionally, the release continued, school officials also notified officials at the Ministry of Education. The Department of Social Services dispatched a team of counselors to the school to assist students and faculty in coping with the traumatic event.
After a short prayer vigil, the release stated, students were dismissed from school.
District Superintendent of South Eastern New Providence Mr. Willard Barr was at the scene and expressed condolences to the family, on behalf of Minister Carl Bethel and the staff of the Ministry of Education, Youth Sports and Culture, the release added.
