School shuts down after six-year-old boy collapses and dies

A primary school has shut down today out of respect for a six-year-old boy who collapsed in the town centre of St Helens, Merseyside.

The boy, who has not been named, was taken to hospital but sadly died on Thursday.

Broad Oak Community Primary School has closed to pupils today to mark the sad occasion.

In a statement, Merseyside Police said: ‘We can confirm that emergency services were in attendance following the death of a child in St Helens yesterday, Thursday, May 14.

‘At around 4.50pm we received a call that a six-year-old boy had collapsed on Parr Street and a passerby carried out CPR until emergency services arrived at the scene.

‘Sadly the child was pronounced deceased at hospital and his family is being supported. A post-mortem will be carried out to establish the full circumstances and cause of death and enquiries are ongoing.’

A spokesperson for St Helens Council said: ‘We are deeply saddened by the loss of a child at Broad Oak Primary School, and our thoughts are with the family and the wider school community.

‘The headteacher has closed the school today out of respect for the family and the devastating grief they face, felt also by pupils and staff.’

The Facebook page for Reform UK’s Parr Ward, in which the school is located, confirmed the school was shut this morning.

The recently-elected Cllr Janet Rowlands said: ‘Broad Oak Primary School is closed to all pupils today. Parents/guardians will be contacted by the school in due course. Thank you for your cooperation.

Cllr Rowlands and her colleagues, Cllrs Mal Webster and Daniel Axeworthy, added in an update later that day: ‘To add to my earlier post, please note that the senior management took the difficult decision to close Broad Oak Primary school as a sign of respect.

‘Please let’s not speculate until all the information is known.’