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Thu, Jul 31, 2008
NST
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Student jumps off 3rd floor during fire drill
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>BUTTERWORTH, MALAYSIA - It was just supposed to be a fire drill but a distressed student jumped off the third floor of his school building after the alarm was triggered. Fortunately, he landed on the concrete rooftop of a nearby staircase without suffering any injuries.
But this was just the beginning of the drama as the 15-year-old then refused to come down.
He started shouting incoherently at teachers and fellow classmates who looked on in shock during the 11.30am incident.
The student threatened to jump off the rooftop if anyone tried to come near him.
This prompted school officials to call in the police and Butterworth Fire and Rescue Department for help.
It took them almost 15-minutes to coax him to come down from the roof.
Just as everybody thought the drama was finally over, the student created a stir once again when police tried to talk to him.
He ran away from the policemen but was subdued after a short chase.
Police took him to Penang Hospital for observation and psychiatric evaluation.
His mother, who had been notified by then, also accompanied her son.
The school's parent teacher association (PTA) chairman, who declined to be named, said the student was probably distressed.
"He is from a poor family and would normally stay at home alone when his mother is away at work. He sometimes has emotional breakdowns."
He added that the student had been undergoing counselling organised by the school and the PTA.
"We have encouraged him to get involved in co-curricular activities as additional therapy and he has been responding well.
"However, there are times when he still gets distressed."
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