Police are investigating the sudden death of a 10-year-old Fredericton boy who collapsed just metres from his home Monday morning.
Investigators say the boy had just left home and was walking to school when he suddenly collapsed on Greensfield Drive, just off Prospect Street, before 8 a.m. Monday.
Several people on board a nearby public transit bus rushed to help the Grade 4 student and stayed with him until ambulances arrived.
“He fell, so the bus driver tried to come out to see what he could do and the other lady went out,” says witness Penny Hutley-Dobson. “She was going to the community college and then she turned around and tried to help resuscitate him and she was still there after the bus driver got on the bus again.”
“I seen the child on the ground and the people around him and the bus driver went right over and I said ‘is he breathing?’ and he said ‘yes’ and I said ‘oh my god,’” describes witness Lynne Grant.
The boy was taken by ambulance to hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Police spent most of the day at a nearby apartment complex, but are saying little about the investigation. There is no word on a cause at this time.
“We’re not quite sure what we’re dealing with. Of course we’re going to take all the investigation avenues that are open to us and look for some answers,” says Fredericton Police Force Insp. Gary Forward.
“With this right now, we’re dealing with a sudden death and, until we get more information, that’s pretty much all we have.”
Staff at the boy’s school are scrambling to deal with the tragedy. Officials at Priestman Street Elementary emailed a statement to parents Monday afternoon, confirming that a student had passed away.
The school says teachers will be informing students Tuesday. Counsellors and support staff will be on hand to help students and teachers cope with the tragedy.
With files from CTV Atlantic's Andy Campbell
