Winchester school's shock at the sudden death of pupil (From Romsey Advertiser)
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Winchester school's shock at the sudden death of pupil
12:43pm Saturday 15th September 2012 in Winchester
By Andrew Napier
Winchester school's shock at the sudden death of pupil
THE Winchester boarding school pupil who collapsed and died on Thursday is believed to be from the Far East.
The teenage girl, aged 17, was a boarder at St Swithun’s School when she was taken ill at 1.30pm.
Paramedics tended to her before she was taken by ambulance to the Royal Hampshire County Hospital in Winchester but died an hour later.
Headmistress of St Swithun’s, Jane Gandee, said yesterday: “Our pupils and staff are deeply shocked and deeply saddened by this incident our thoughts and prayers are with the girl’s family at this time.”
The girl has not been named but is believed to have been a lower-sixth student from the Far East who had only been at the school a few days.
The school would not comment except to say that she was from overseas.
Police were called to the school but confirmed the death is not being treated as suspicious.
It is understood the girl did not have any underlying health problems.
The Central Hampshire coroner Grahame Short has been told and following a post-mortem an inquest may be opened next week.
Spokesman for the school, Simon Mayes, said yesterday: “This has been a complete shock as she was only 17 and we are currently talking with her parents.
“We will know more after the autopsy. There were no underlying health issues which makes it all the more tragic.”
St Swithun’s School on Alresford Road charges £9,070 a term for boarders and educates girls aged 11 to 18 on a boarding and day basis.
It has about 440 pupils of whom about 200 are boarders. It also runs a co-educational prep school.
