10-Year-Old Boy Dies After Collapsing During Punishment at School

A 10-year-old boy, Shawn Victor Were, tragically died after collapsing during an unjust punishment at Red Hill Baraka School, with further negligence from the school and improper medical care contributing to his death.

A tragic incident unfolded at Red Hill Baraka School, where 10-year-old student Shawn Victor Were passed away after collapsing during a punishment. The heartbreaking news was shared on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), sparking outrage and grief.

According to a post by @omondike_, Shawn’s mother received a call from the school at 2:48 p.m. informing her that her son was unwell and speaking incoherently. Concerned, she contacted the school’s director, asking why he had not been taken to the hospital. The director claimed no vehicle was available to transport him.

Alarmed, Shawn’s parents and a neighbor rushed to the school and found him lying on a mattress, surrounded by teachers but with no clear explanation for his condition. They quickly transported him to Life-Care Hospital in Kikuyu, but doctors found the oxygen equipment faulty, and after multiple attempts to change tanks, they declared that Shawn was no longer breathing.

During the resuscitation attempt, Shawn vomited undigested rice and watermelon, which had not been properly chewed. When his mother called the school, a teacher initially denied giving him food, but later, another teacher admitted to feeding him watermelon in an attempt to revive him.

Investigation revealed that earlier that day, Shawn had been unfairly punished. While his class was scheduled for swimming lessons, Shawn, along with other children, stayed in the classroom after his parents opted out for health reasons. He was tasked with monitoring the class, and when noise was reported, teacher Mr. Austin punished him and five other students, despite Shawn’s claims of innocence and presenting a list of the actual noisemakers.

The punishment involved running a cross-country course. While running, Shawn collapsed and started convulsing. Other students later informed his twin sister, Vicky, that Shawn had been left behind, convulsing with foam coming from his mouth. Two teachers carried him back to school, and Mr. Walter later admitted to feeding him watermelon in an attempt to help him recover.

The family confronted the school about the food found in Shawn’s system, and it became clear he had been fed rice and watermelon while convulsing, causing him to choke and complicating his condition further.

When the father inquired about the cause of death, doctors revealed that Shawn had suffered a convulsion. The food he was force-fed obstructed his airway, leading to his death.

Adding to the family’s distress, the school’s response to the tragedy was shockingly indifferent. While earlier claiming that no vehicle was available to transport Shawn to the hospital, the school later sent a van full of teachers after learning of his death. Rather than offering condolences, one teacher reportedly remarked, “It is done, Mama Shawn,” and inquired about plans to take his body to the morgue.

The family rejected the school’s offer to transport Shawn’s remains.

FULL STORY:

At 2:48 p.m., Shawn’s mother received a call from the school saying her son was unwell and speaking incoherently. Panicked, she immediately called the school’s director, questioning why he couldn’t be taken to the hospital. The director responded that no vehicle was available.

Concerned, she, along with Shawn’s father and a neighbor, rushed to the school. Upon arrival, they found Shawn lying on a mattress surrounded by teachers but without any clear explanation for his deteriorating condition. In a panic, they quickly took him to Life-Care Hospital in Kikuyu, where doctors discovered that the oxygen equipment was faulty. After trying to switch tanks several times, they determined Shawn had stopped breathing.

During the resuscitation attempt, Shawn began vomiting undigested rice and watermelon. When his mother contacted the school, a teacher initially denied giving him food, but later one teacher admitted to feeding him watermelon in an effort to revive him.

The father, seeking an explanation, learned from the doctor that Shawn had suffered a convulsion. During this emergency, food had been force-fed to him, obstructing his airway and ultimately contributing to his death.

Further investigation revealed that Shawn had been punished unfairly that day. While the other students were in swimming lessons, Shawn and a few others stayed in the classroom. The teacher tasked Shawn with monitoring the class, but when noise was reported, he was punished along with five others, despite his attempts to explain his innocence and provide a list of the actual noisemakers.

The punishment involved running a cross-country course. During this, Shawn collapsed and began convulsing. Other students later told Shawn’s twin sister that he had been left behind, convulsing with foam at his mouth. Two teachers later carried him back to the school, and Mr. Walter admitted to feeding him watermelon, thinking it would help.

After Shawn’s death, the mother confronted the school about the food, as it was evident that he had been force-fed rice and watermelon while convulsing, which led to choking. The school failed to take proper action and didn’t provide immediate care when Shawn started convulsing. By the time his parents arrived, Shawn’s oxygen levels had dropped significantly, resulting in his incoherence and eventual death.

When Shawn’s mother informed the school of his passing, the response was cold and indifferent. Despite earlier claiming that no vehicles were available to take him to the hospital, the school later offered to assist in transporting Shawn’s body to the morgue. The family rejected this offer.

CALL FOR JUSTICE:

“We demand answers. Why was Shawn punished with cross-country running when he was pleading his innocence? Why was food given to a convulsing child? Why was there no basic first aid or medical intervention, despite a hospital being nearby? How can a school not have trained staff to handle medical emergencies?”

“This tragedy is not just about Shawn; it is about the safety and well-being of all children at the school. The school’s negligence and failure to provide basic care have cost us our child, and we seek justice. We also call on the Ministry of Education to ensure that schools are equipped with properly trained personnel to respond to medical emergencies and enforce better protocols for student safety.”

“Rest in peace, Shawn.”

Shawn Victor Were, a 10-year-old Grade 5 pupil at Red Hill Baraka School in Gachie.

The story has gained widespread attention, with people flooding the comment section online to express their outrage and demand justice for Shawn’s tragic death.

Reactions from the Public:

@DrFarryser: “So sorry for the parents. The school system is rotten to the core because nothing is done to them even with immense evidence.”

@Dtlbd3: “With all the technology we have, live calling a medic to get appropriate instructions during emergencies is so simple. It’s heartbreaking to see where we’ve gone as a people. RIP Shawn!”

@KoffeBeanZ: “I couldn’t continue reading… I’m just furious at everyone who contributed to Shawn’s demise.”

@Graciejohn27: “Why can’t teachers just teach and go home? These extra actions—who are they for? Unbelievable.”

@MutaiASang: “Teachers have always killed and run away. Do something this time. A killer has no profession. They belong to prison walls and the soil of the grave.”

@TheAdBossOffix: “I believe that school is filled with young people. Young people, get closer to your older people and learn life-saving skills from them. Everything isn’t just about the internet, pressing phones, or school. Convulsions were handled by older people with fewer casualties. This generation can’t even do that. Who gives melon to a convulsing child?”

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