A boy under the age of 12 was airlifted to a Toronto-area trauma centre on Thursday after being struck by a falling maple tree branch outside a south Oshawa school during the noon hour.
Incident Details
The incident occurred around 12:10 p.m. at Monsignor Philip Coffey Catholic School, located in the area of Oxford St. and Dwight Ave., according to Durham Regional Police and the Durham Catholic District School Board.
“It was on school property,” said Acting Sgt. Nick Gluckstein. “It would have happened when there were numerous children outside on the field. A male under the age of 12 was struck by a branch that fell off of a tree and initial reports highlighted he was possibly vital signs absent.”
Gluckstein noted that school staff performed life-saving measures until officers and medical personnel arrived and took over. “They were able to bring vital signs back and bring him back to consciousness. He was verbal for a period while he was under the tree.”
Severe Weather Possible Factor
Oshawa experienced a severe storm Wednesday night with heavy rain, thunder, and high winds that continued into Thursday morning before tapering off. While it is not confirmed if the weather caused the branch to fall, Gluckstein said the branch was large and struck the boy’s upper body.
“About 10 people, give or take, it took to actually move that branch off of that young man,” said Gluckstein. “After they removed that branch he was airlifted to a Toronto-area hospital. As you can imagine when we cue Air Ornge, it’s very significant and serious injuries. The last information I have is that he suffered serious, significant injuries. Both of his parents have been taken by our officers as well to the hospital.”
Investigation Underway
Police have cordoned off the area where the branch fell. “Our investigators will be determining exactly why the branch broke. But we had a severe storm (Wednesday) night. It’s been pretty windy. So there’s a good probability that contributed to why that branch broke off. We are also examining whether there was neglect to that tree in terms of maintenance, things that will be looked at. But more than likely it was because of the weather but I can’t say for sure yet until they complete the investigation,” Gluckstein said.
School Board Response
In a statement, the Durham Catholic District School Board said: “Earlier (Thursday), during the lunch hour, a student sustained injuries at Monsignor Philip Coffey Catholic School as a result of a fallen tree. The student was airlifted to a hospital to receive care. Emergency services, including Durham Regional Police Service and Oshawa Fire Services, attended promptly and remain onsite. We are working closely with emergency responders, and supports for students and staff are available within the school community.”
The board added, “Out of respect for the student and their family, we will not be sharing further details at this time. We thank our staff, students, and first responders for their swift response and cooperation. As a Catholic learning community, we keep the student, their family, and the school community in our prayers.”
