'He was hugging his water bag for dear life': Parents sue after son dies on school camp
Parents of a Melbourne schoolboy who died at a camp are suing his school over his death.
Alexander Li, a 16-year-old student of Huntingtower School in Mount Waverley, died while on a school camp at Plumbago Station in South Australia, 200km west of Broken Hill in February 2016.
According to a coroner’s report, Alexander was put in a group with 12 other students and three staff members.
Male students had to carry a 17kg pack while females had to carry a 14kg bag. Each pack included a seven-litre container of water.
Students had been given a preparation booklet, itinerary and a training walk ahead of the hike. An information evening was also held for parents.
The first day’s walk was 6.5km to the campsite with the temperature reaching a maximum of 36.1C.
Student statements said the site also had a large number of ants making it hard to sleep.
The following day the group woke at 5.30am to cover a 14km walk.
Fellow student Alexandra Raphael said Alexander appeared less enthusiastic about 7km into the walk and after stopping for a brief break she said he “appeared to be fed up with walking”.
“Alexander was hugging his water bag for dear life, he looked tired,” she said.
“He was lying down and it seemed as though he was having a bit of difficulty breathing.”
The group continued and Alexander slowed down. Alexandra added “he looked drained of energy”.
About 12.50pm it was 36.1C and Alexander was placed at the front of the group so he wouldn’t lag behind.
Alexandra said as they reached the top of a hill he appeared to be hyperventilating. Students tried to slow his breathing.
They continued down the hill and reached the bottom of the gully but Alexander fell to the ground as the temperature climbed to 39.1.
He tried to stand but fell into a bush, became agitated and began yelling incoherently.
A support vehicle arrived within 10 minutes but Alexander was barely conscious and within hours he was declared dead at Peterborough Hospital.
Forensic pathologist Dr Stephen Willis said there was a strong possibility the student died from heatstroke, with symptoms including brain swelling and congestion along with a number of heart issues.
Alexander was also asthmatic.
In 2016, principal Sholto Bowen said it was “a very, very sad day” with the “loss of this wonderful young man”.
A statement of claim filed in the Supreme Court by the teen’s parents Yi Nei Li and Xiao-Jing Wei claims Huntingtower School were negligent in running the camp.
The claim by Maurice Blackburn Lawyer, on behalf of Alexander’s parents, states the school failed to have up-to-date weather information, failed to limit physical activity during the “hottest part” of the day and failed to consider Alexander’s fitness.
Mr Li and Mrs Wei are claiming pain, suffering and distress along with “psychiatric injury” over their son’s death.
Maurice Blackburn principal lawyer Dimi Ioannou told Yahoo7 in a statement Alexander’s death was a terrible and avoidable tragedy.
“Alexander’s parents trusted their much-loved son to the school and expected them to take care of him,” she said.
“Instead he was made to march through intense heat carrying an extremely heavy backpack. This was an entirely avoidable death.”
Ms Ioannou added children should never be required to perform “such a strenuous activity” in “hostile conditions”.
She added his parents “remain devastated”.
In a statement, Huntingtower School told Yahoo7 the entire school community was “devastated” by Alexander’s death.
“Our heartfelt thoughts remain with Alexander’s family and friends. We have been in regular contact with Alex’s family over the last two years to offer whatever support we can,” the statement read.
“The welfare of our students and staff was and always will be paramount. As the matter is now before the Court we are unable to provide further comment.”
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