A 14-year-old student has died after falling from the third floor of a junior high school building in Taichung, Taiwan, on Thursday afternoon.
The Form Two student was found on the ground after the fall at about 2pm. Emergency responders rushed to the school after receiving the alert and found the boy conscious and still responsive.
He was given initial treatment at the scene before being taken to the emergency department of China Medical University Hospital.
Initial examinations indicated a fracture to his hand. However, his condition later deteriorated rapidly after doctors discovered that he had suffered more serious internal injuries.
Despite several hours of emergency treatment, the boy died from his injuries later that night.
Police subsequently reported the case to prosecutors, who conducted an examination of the body. Authorities found no signs of physical struggle or external force and have provisionally ruled out the possibility that the boy was pushed or assaulted.
The exact circumstances surrounding the fall remain under investigation, with the relevant education authorities also notified.
The school principal later issued an open letter to parents, saying staff and students were “shocked and deeply saddened” by the sudden loss of the young student.
The school said it immediately activated its crisis response mechanism following the incident and has been cooperating fully with the police and prosecutors. School administrators and teachers have also been supporting the boy’s family with the arrangements and legal assistance following his death.
Psychological counselling and group support sessions have been arranged for classmates and other students and staff affected by the tragedy.
The school also urged parents and members of the public not to speculate about the incident or spread unverified information online, stressing that the investigation is still ongoing.
It appealed for the family’s privacy to be respected to prevent further distress during the grieving process.
The school also encouraged parents to pay closer attention to their children’s emotions and stress levels, and to guide them towards healthy ways of coping with difficulties and setbacks.
