Singapore Sports School fires badminton coach after 14-year-old student's death
The school said the badminton coach should have checked on the student, who had felt unwell after a 400m fitness time trial, before leaving the track.
SINGAPORE — A badminton coach from the Singapore Sports School's Badminton Academy has been dismissed after a 14-year-old student died following a fitness trial.
In a media release on Saturday (14 October), the school said that the coach, who was not identified by name, should have checked on the student, Pranav Madhaik, to ensure his well-being before leaving the track.
Pranav felt unwell after taking part in a 400m fitness time trial on 5 October, and was subsequently taken to the National University Hospital, where he died on 11 October from cardiac arrest.
"Time trials and conditioning sessions are a regular part of student-athletes’ training plans," the Singapore Sports School said.
"[The coach] did not account for all his student-athletes before dismissing them from training, which was not in accordance with the school’s safety protocols," the school said, adding that it had served the coach a notice of dismissal.
It would also be reviewing and strengthening all its safety protocols, and emphasising to coaches and staff the importance of adhering to them.
The school added that it had met with Pranav's parents on Friday evening (13 October) to share the findings of its investigation and extend its condolences to the family.
What happened before Pranav's death
According to the Singapore Sports School, Pranav went to the badminton coach and reported that he felt unwell after the trial, which he had taken at 6.26pm.
The coach had told Pranav to rest as he had previously reported being unwell but recovered after resting.
While Pranav was resting, the badminton coach attended to the time-trial data on his phone, and subsequently left the track to brief other students on competition matters. He had not realised that Pranav was still resting at the same location, and left the school premises after the briefing.
The school said Pranav had interacted with two other groups of students who had walked by while he rested. According to their accounts, they did not notice anything unusual with Pranav at the time.
Minutes after the second group left at around 6.35pm, a Track and Field coach who was walking by noticed Pranav at the side of the track and asked about his condition, and then asked another student to get some water for Pranav.
The coach then assessed that Pranav was having difficulty getting up even with assistance from other students, and activated the school's boarding staff at 6.45pm to assist, as the boarding premises were nearby.
An ambulance was called at around 6.50pm, following which Pranav's parents were alerted. The ambulance arrived at 7.02pm, and conveyed Pranav to the hospital at 7.19pm together with the badminton coach, who had returned to accompany the student.
According to the Singapore Sports School, Pranav's cause of death was cardiac arrest with antecedent cause of congenital malformation of coronary vessels.
"The School extends our deepest condolences to the family of Pranav, and is supporting the family in their time of grief," it said in its statement.
Do you have a story tip? Email: sgnews.tips@yahooinc.com.
You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter. Also check out our Southeast Asia, Food, and Gaming channels on YouTube.
