Tragic loss
Published:Friday | March 18, 2011 | 12:00 AM
Sts Peter and Paul student killed in freak goalpost incident
Ryon Jones, Gleaner Writer
The usual sight of cheerful children playing on the grounds of Sts Peter and Paul Preparatory School in St Andrew was yesterday replaced by sorrow and shock as a freak accident claimed the life of a member of the institution's community.
Nine-year-old Jerimiah Yson Jr and other schoolmates were on the playing field close to the end of their lunch break when a heavy gust of wind reportedly toppled over a football goalpost, which fell on him.
The goalpost appears to have been one of two that were tied together by a tarpaulin which was hit by the wind.
The Gleaner understands that all staff who were assigned duty during the break were present.
According to a family friend, little Jerimiah's relatives were forced to mourn in secret as his father is ailing and they were worried his condition could worsen if he became aware of his third and last child's death.
Inspector Robblin Wedderburn said, Jerimiah was pronounced dead at 12:25 p.m. at the University Hospital of the West Indies.
"The matter is being investigated. We will be calling the crime scene unit to process the scene," Wedderburn, who was on location yesterday, disclosed. He said the police would be collecting statements from persons who may have seen what occurred.
Classes dismissed
The tragedy resulted in all classes at the St Andrew-located school being dismissed for the rest of the day as parents were summoned to pick up their children.
"The children are devastated. One of their brothers has been hurt, and some of them may have witnessed it," said the school's chairman, Deacon Christopher Gooden, before he became aware that Jerimiah had succumbed to his injuries. "We had them in the church for a while praying and singing and trying to console them and then we decided that we would close the school because the best place for children is in the arms of their parents, especially in a situation like this."
The school has been in contact with the Child Development Agency as it wishes to provide counselling for the children today.
One of the first persons on the scene, Kelvin Wedderburn, told The Gleaner that he had been at the automotive shop beside the school when he heard about the accident.
"Fortunately, a doctor was there ... . He administered CPR before rushing him (Jerimiah) to the hospital.
"He was in a really bad state, as he had lost a lot of blood. I had to put a piece of cardboard over the blood," he recounted.
Though stating that it was not the foremost thing on his mind, Gooden said he hoped the isolated incident would not cast the school in a bad light.
"Sts Peter and Paul has a stellar reputation for safety and for monitoring children," Gooden said. "Nothing like this has happened at the school in all its years of existence, so it is certainly my hope that it doesn't tarnish the school's reputation," he added.
Yesterday's incident occurred just over two months after seven-year-old Nicholas Hamilton was killed when a goalpost at Coke View Primary School in Westmoreland fell on him.
In that incident, the goalpost reportedly fell on the little boy while it was being lifted by other students during a lunchtime play session.
Grange saddened
Last night, Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Olivia Grange said she was saddened and concerned on hearing about the incident at Sts Peter and Paul.
"Today, I asked the Sports Development Foundation (SDF) to do an investigation and to recommend new standards for the design, construction and installation of goalposts in Jamaica," Grange said, noting the similarities to the Westmoreland incident.
Explaining that the SDF has expertise in sports infrastructure development and would be able to recommend standards that address safety concerns, Grange said her ministry would share the findings and recommendations with schools, clubs and community centres "so that these tragic incidents do not recur".
SDF Chairman David Mais, in the meantime, said a technical team, involving SDF staff, the Institute of Sports and the Social Development Commission, would meet next week to prepare an action plan to address Grange's concerns.