Afternoon:
15°c
Exam pupils seriously hurt in duct collapse
12.05.09
Thirteen children were injured today, four of them seriously, when a school heating duct collapsed as they were sitting an exam.
The Year 9 pupils were in a sports hall at Minster College, in Minster Road on the Isle of Sheppey, Kent, when the accident happened.
Emergency services were called to the scene shortly after 9am.
Six teenagers were taken by ambulance to Medway Hospital, four of them with serious neck, head or back injuries.
The school was closed for the day and headteacher Alan Klee said arrangements were being made for pupils to be collected.
A spokesman for South East Coast Ambulance Service said: "We were called today at 9.14am to initial reports of a roof collapse at Minster College, Minster Road, Sheerness.
"We sent 11 vehicles to the scene. They included emergency ambulances, single responder cars and patient transport ambulances.
"There are currently 13 confirmed casualties, all of whom are teenagers.
"Four of the patients have serious neck, head and/or back injuries.
"The other nine have more minor injuries.
"A small number of people also received treatment at the scene for things like shock.
"Six patients have been taken to Medway Hospital by land ambulance.
"Some paramedics are still at the scene."
A Kent Police spokesman said: "It's been confirmed that 13 Year 9 pupils have been injured.
"They were sitting an exam in the sports hall when the incident occurred."
Kent Fire and Rescue Service said no-one was believed to be trapped following the collapse.
Mr Klee said: "During an exam being sat by Year 9 pupils in the sports hall at Minster College, heating ducting collapsed.
"Twelve first aid-trained staff dealt with injuries immediately and emergency services were on site within a few minutes.
"The school is currently co-ordinating the collection of all the children.
"Any children who can't be collected will remain on site fully supervised.
"For further information please call the Kent County Council contact centre on 08458 247 247."
The council added that if a parent has not already been contacted directly by the school their child is safe.
Pupils outside the school spoke of their shock over the incident.
John Semoore, 16, said: "I was in a maths class. All the teachers started running out of their classrooms. We went to the refectory and were told that a boy had hurt his neck badly - he was hit by a piece of metal.
"We were told that a few pupils had been seriously injured and some not so seriously.
"We ran round to see what was going on and we saw a helicopter and lots of fire engines.
"We were all really shocked.
"The teachers told us to sign out and go home."
The Year 11 pupil said he could not see into the hall itself, but added: "I think about a metre-long piece of the vent shaft fell down.
"It was always rattling in the wind and there were loads of balls lodged underneath it that kids had thrown up there. It was pretty dodgy."
Another pupil, Jack Dowding, also 16, said he believed that around 60 pupils had been sitting an exam in the hall at the time.
He said: "We heard lots of ambulances and police cars. I was in the auditorium taking another exam at the time.
"I went outside and there were lots of people running round crying and screaming."
An ambulance service spokesman said a further five pupils were taken to Medway Maritime Hospital later, taking the total to 11.
He added: "None are believed to have suffered life-threatening injuries."
A spokesman from Medway NHS Foundation Trust in Gillingham said: "Medway NHS Foundation Trust has admitted 11 patients who sustained injuries at Minster College.
"At the moment there are no obvious serious injuries but investigations are ongoing.
"There are a number of head and neck conditions being assessed and families are here at the hospital.
"The hospital is coping with the current emergency and has adequate staff and facilities to care for those affected."
Reader views (3)
Gordon Brown found time to talk about the Gurkas. Perhaps he can now find the time to talk with representatives of the teaching profession, and all those involved in it?
- Mark, Venice, Italy
There, teachers have been saying for years that tests for children are a bad idea. Maybe they were right?
- Coylum, vancouver, Canada
Your local school falling apart due to a lack of public money?
Never mind at least some MP has got a clean swimming pool.
- Frank, Home Counties, England.
