Phatsimo CJSS student dies during marathon race

CALISTUS KOLANTSHO
Correspondent | Wednesday February 17, 2010 00:00

The school headmaster, Richard Bashe confirmed the incident to Mmegi, saying the student died after running two lapses of the 12 rounds marathon  during the Selebi-Phikwe cluster competitions.He explained that students are expected to produce medical cards if they are not feeling well in a system that is currently used to involve all students in sports.

The deceased's father, Olesitse Ntlotlang said his child was not sick and did not have any condition that they were aware of that could have led to his untimely death.

'My child was fit and the last time he went to the hospital was in 2004 and it was just fever, nothing serious. The news of his passing came as a shock to us. He was still young and he had his whole future ahead of him,' said Ntlotlang with pain all over his face. The deceased was 15 years old and was expected to celebrate his 16th birthday on May 9th.

He mentioned that the family was only aware that the boy was taking part on athletics on the fatal day that he died.

He noted that they were informed that their child collapsed in the athletics track and upon arrival at the hospital, he was pronounced dead.

Ntlotlang said they have requested for the post-mortem report to establish the cause of death of their child and it is only after receiving the report that they can go ahead with the funeral. The burial has been scheduled for this coming weekend.

Ntlotlang said his son's death is a challenge that the family has to overcome and said the deceased was the  second born child. He said they cannot blame anyone for the death of their child because it is the system of the government to advice students to participate in sports.