A 12-year-old student tragically passed away after suffering a suspected cardiac arrest during his school examination in Lucknow on Friday. The class VI pupil was writing his test at a private school located in the city's Mahanagar area.
Chronology of a Tragedy
According to accounts from teachers, the boy had just submitted his English examination paper and returned to his seat when he began feeling unwell. The incident occurred around 11:10 am. He suddenly collapsed, prompting the exam invigilator to raise an immediate alarm.
School staff and teachers rushed to his aid and attempted to administer cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Despite their efforts, the boy did not respond. He was quickly transported to the nearby Bhaurao Devras Civil Hospital in Mahanagar for emergency care.
Medical Efforts Prove Futile
Dr. Manish Shukla, the medical superintendent of BRD Civil Hospital, provided details of the medical response. "When the boy was brought to the hospital he had no pulse or heartbeat," Dr. Shukla stated. He explained that the medical team continued aggressive resuscitation attempts. "When there was no response despite repeated attempts, we had to declare him dead," he added, confirming the devastating outcome.
A Pattern of Concern in Lucknow Schools
This heartbreaking event is not an isolated incident in the city. Shockingly, this marks the third time in the last two years that a school student in Lucknow has lost their life following a cardiac arrest.
The school's principal, Jinu Abraham, spoke to the media, confirming the sequence of events. Disturbingly, this is the second such tragedy at the same institution. Last year, an 11-year-old class III student from this school also died of a sudden cardiac arrest outside her classroom.
Furthermore, in 2023, a class IX student from a different private school in the Aliganj area of Lucknow passed away due to a similar cardiac arrest.
A Family and Community in Mourning
The incident has plunged the boy's family and the entire school community into profound shock and grief. The young boy was the only child of his parents. His father is an employee with the Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC), and his grandfather practices as a lawyer at the Allahabad High Court.
This series of untimely deaths has raised urgent questions about the underlying causes of cardiac arrests among seemingly healthy school children, pointing to potential factors like stress, undiagnosed health conditions, and lifestyle.
