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Pupil dies after wall collapses at Liberton High School | Pupil dies after wall collapses at Liberton High School |
(35 minutes later) | |
A pupil has died after a wall inside the building of an Edinburgh school collapsed and landed on top of her. | A pupil has died after a wall inside the building of an Edinburgh school collapsed and landed on top of her. |
The Scottish Ambulance Service sent a special operation response team to Liberton High School at 09:53. | The Scottish Ambulance Service sent a special operation response team to Liberton High School at 09:53. |
A Police Scotland spokesman said the pupil, who is understood to have been in S1 or S2, was treated by ambulance staff but pronounced dead. | A Police Scotland spokesman said the pupil, who is understood to have been in S1 or S2, was treated by ambulance staff but pronounced dead. |
The incident is thought to have happened in a PE changing room. Police confirmed next of kin had been told. | The incident is thought to have happened in a PE changing room. Police confirmed next of kin had been told. |
One pupil at the school, 13-year-old Devon Blyth, told the BBC she had warned a teacher some months ago that there was an unstable wall in the girl's changing room near the old gym. | |
Text to parents | |
She said: "There was a wall that's been wobbly for months. | |
"I had told my old PE teacher before he left and he said it should be fine - and then this has happened." | |
The school, which has about 650 pupils, was built in 1959, and the PE accommodation was refurbished in the mid-1980s. | |
After the incident the school sent a text to parents, which reads: "Important! Accident at school. A pupil has sadly died. Her parents are aware. No-one else is injured." | |
Edinburgh City Council advised parents to pick up their children from the school. | |
BBC reporter Morag Kinniburgh said pupils had been texting their parents saying they were extremely worried and asking to be picked up. | |
'Really upset' | |
Gary Gracie, 34, was one of the parents who congregated at the school gates. | |
He said: "My step-daughter phoned and said one of the walls in the changing room had collapsed. | |
"The lassies were getting changed for their PE class in the changing room. My step-daughter heard the crash. | "The lassies were getting changed for their PE class in the changing room. My step-daughter heard the crash. |
"She said it was all her friends in the building at the time. | "She said it was all her friends in the building at the time. |
"She is really upset." | "She is really upset." |
Another parent, Alistair Strachan, 36, said he was "very worried and concerned" about the incident. | Another parent, Alistair Strachan, 36, said he was "very worried and concerned" about the incident. |
Police Scotland said officers had been called to the school after a wall within the building collapsed. | |
A spokesman said the girl was treated by ambulance staff on the scene, but was pronounced dead. | |
He added: "Inquiries into the full circumstances surrounding this incident are ongoing and we are working alongside our relevant partner agencies." | |
A spokeswoman for the Health and Safety Executive said: "We can confirm we are aware and liaising with Police Scotland." | |
An Edinburgh City Council spokeswoman said senior education staff and Health and Safety officers from the council were at the school providing support to staff and pupils. | |
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said crews from Tollcross, McDonald Road, Liberton and Newcraighall had been sent to the school. | |
"Firefighters assisted ambulance personnel to remove a female casualty from a collapsed structure, but sadly she was pronounced dead at the scene," said a spokeswoman. | |
"Thoughts are with the family at this difficult time." | |
First Minister Alex Salmond tweeted that he was "shocked and deeply saddened at news from Liberton High. | |
"Visited school in December - thoughts today with family, pupils and staff." | |
Minister for Learning Alasdair Allan added: "We remain in close contact with the council and stand ready to provide any help that may be needed." | |
Nick Cook, Conservative councillor whose Liberton and Gilmerton ward includes Liberton High School, told the BBC Scotland news website: "This is a very tragic and troubling incident. | Nick Cook, Conservative councillor whose Liberton and Gilmerton ward includes Liberton High School, told the BBC Scotland news website: "This is a very tragic and troubling incident. |
"My thoughts are with the pupil's family. | "My thoughts are with the pupil's family. |
"Serious questions need to be asked of the children and families department about how this has come about and a full investigation must be launched." | "Serious questions need to be asked of the children and families department about how this has come about and a full investigation must be launched." |
Ian Murray MP tweeted: "Tragic news coming from Liberton High School. My thoughts go out to the family and all at the school. Dreadful news." | Ian Murray MP tweeted: "Tragic news coming from Liberton High School. My thoughts go out to the family and all at the school. Dreadful news." |
The moderator of the general assembly of the Church of Scotland, Rt Rev Lorna Hood, tweeted: "Sadness as we hear of the death of pupil at Liberton High School. | The moderator of the general assembly of the Church of Scotland, Rt Rev Lorna Hood, tweeted: "Sadness as we hear of the death of pupil at Liberton High School. |
"Our prayers and heartfelt compassion go out to her family and school community." | "Our prayers and heartfelt compassion go out to her family and school community." |
Edinburgh City Council was fined £8,000 in February after a pupil received serious injuries when she fell down a lift shaft at Liberton High School. | Edinburgh City Council was fined £8,000 in February after a pupil received serious injuries when she fell down a lift shaft at Liberton High School. |
Morgan Seaton, a fourth year Liberton High School pupil, was 15 at the time of the accident on 8 December 2011. | Morgan Seaton, a fourth year Liberton High School pupil, was 15 at the time of the accident on 8 December 2011. |
Another pupil at the school died in December while playing for Tynecastle FC's under-14s. | Another pupil at the school died in December while playing for Tynecastle FC's under-14s. |
The 13-year-old collapsed during a match at Saughton Sports complex in Edinburgh on 22 December. | The 13-year-old collapsed during a match at Saughton Sports complex in Edinburgh on 22 December. |