A Grade 3 St Margaret’s Primary School pupil died while receiving medical attention after he was pushed by a classmate in the school’s compound on Thursday and subsequently fell to the ground.
Joshua Hubbard, 8, of Kitty, died while receiving medical attention at a private hospital in the city after he woke up in the wee hours of yesterday morning, complaining of excruciating pain.
Hubbard was allegedly pushed by another boy who wanted the rose Hubbard had bought for his mother for Valentine’s Day and became annoyed when he could not take it away.
Joshua’s father, Orin Hubbard, said that when he collected his son from school on Thursday afternoon, he appeared normal.
He said his son did indicate to him that he was pushed down by another pupil, who did not even have the courtesy to tell him sorry and they continued to talk on their way home.
Joshua had the rose he had bought for his mom when his father collected him.
The man said his son did not complain of pain anywhere, or of feeling unwell apart from telling him that he wanted “puri” to eat.
Hubbard told Stabroek News that he took his son to get the puri he wanted and then they went home.
At home the child appeared normal and was even playing with the other children in the yard, his father related.
He later ate his dinner, had a bath, did homework and then went to sleep.
Around 1.30 to 2 am yesterday, Hubbard said, his son jumped out of his sleep and began screaming for pain in his head and abdomen.
The father said: “We rub he up with Limacol and thing and after we see his eyes start roll up.
His sister who is training as a nurse, test his pulse and she said, ‘daddy Joshua ain’t get no pulse’.”
Hubbard said they realised the child’s condition was serious and decided to rush him to the emergency room of a private hospital.
When they arrived at the hospital, doctors tried desperately to revive the child, but nothing was successful.
Hubbard said that it was when he went to his son’s school to find out if anything had transpired, that a teacher told him that his son had been pushed down in the schoolyard after another pupil, who was after him for the rose he bought, was unsuccessful in taking away the rose.
Fighting back tears, Hubbard said Joshua always told him that he would be the President of Guyana someday and he would work towards achieving his dream. He said his son was doing well in school and was not involved in fights.
Joshua was the last of four children and leaves to mourn his father, mother and siblings.
A post-mortem examination will be performed on Monday.
