Secondary school student dies in Singapore after collapsing during run

A Secondary school student died in Singapore yesterday morning (1 August), after a 2.4 km run in school.

Secondary school student dies in Singapore

According to The Straits Times, Secondary 4 student, Benjamin Sim Wen Ming, student at Chong Boon Secondary School in Ang Mo Kio, had just completed the run during his physical education lesson when the tragedy happened.

It seems, he had keeled over and hit his head on the ground near the school foyer after completing the run around the school.

The school authorities alerted the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) at around 8:15 am. They were already administering cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on the boy when the SCDF arrived. He was rushed to Tan Tock Seng Hospital, and continued to receive CPR on the way, but was sadly pronounced dead at 11.44 am.

16-year-old Benjamin was a sporty, friendly boy, and had been playing in the school volleyball team for 4 years. Apparently, he had no previous history of medical ailments.

His father, Pastor Davy Sim has been quoted by The  Straits Times as saying, "We are still in a state of shock, but we have accepted it. We will leave it to the school to investigate what happened. I believe that they had done their best."

Chong Boon Secondary principal Yeo Kuerk Heng tells The Straits Times, "Benjamin was well regarded and popular among his peers, and was especially known for his cheerful and friendly disposition."

Police are currently investigating the death.

We offer our sincere condolences to this family...

There have been many cases of sports related deaths in Singapore schools this year. In February, 15-year-old Bryan Chee, who had a congenital heart defect, died after collapsing during a 2.4km run in Loyang Secondary School. Another school boy died because he was hit by a goalpost while playing football in school.

Here are some safety tips for children while running or doing sports:

• Warm up first: Light stretching and jogging before practices and games helps warm the muscles to make them more flexible and prepare them for activity. Cooling down with stretching afterwards helps the muscles recover and helps prevent injuries.
• Use safety gear and proper equipment: Protective equipment, like mouth guards, helmets, pads and shoes, are very important for injury prevention. 
• Rest: Adequate rest is required between practices, games and events. A lack of sleep and muscle fatigue predisposes a player to injury.
• Stay well hydrated, especially in hot weather: Parents should make sure that their children have adequate water before, during and after play, and watch for any signs of a heat-related illness, including fatigue, nausea, vomiting, confusion or fainting.
• Stop running as soon as you notice signs of trouble: Ignoring the warning signs of an injury will only lead to bigger problems down the road. Kids will often try to play through pain to avoid missing a big game or being seen as weak. Help your child learn to listen to their body and understand that pain is their body’s way of telling them to rest.

Also READ: Singapore boy dies while playing football in school

(Source: The Straits Times)