Pain for family after jury rules teen died from natural causes

A 19-year-old student who collapsed while jogging during a physical education class in 2019 died due to natural causes, a coroner's jury has unanimously ruled.

Xiao Yetao, a Secondary Four student at Lui Ming Choi Lutheran College in Tsuen Wan, died from myocarditis - an inflammation of the heart muscles - the jury of three men and two women said yesterday. The jury reached a decision after deliberating for two hours.

Xiao's mother cried upon hearing the verdict and later expressed dissatisfaction at the ruling.

The teenager collapsed in the middle of a 1,500-meter run during a physical education class at Shing Mun Valley Sports Ground on March 18, 2019. He was rushed to Yan Chai Hospital, where he was later confirmed dead.

Coroner Stanley Ho Chun-yiu thanked Xiao's mother, Lin Meijin, for testifying in court and expressed his condolences, saying he hoped family members got to know more about his death through the hearings.

But Lin said in tears outside court that she was not satisfied with the decision. "My son died. But the school never apologized to me," she said.

School principal Ma Yuk-kuen, left the court immediately after the hearing.

The jury suggested that the Education Bureau conduct annual inspections to ensure all schools are carrying out its safety guidelines on physical education. It should send officers to inspect schools regularly, the jury said.

Those that fail to follow instructions should be punished, the jury said, adding the bureau should set up relevant rules on penalty as soon as possible and review the monitoring mechanism.

Lin had told the court that her son also collapsed in school in June 2018 and was hospitalized for three days.

In September 2018, Xiao said in a health declaration to the school that he suffered from shortness of breath and chest pain, Lin said. He also put down "no vigorous exercise, running" on the declaration form.

But Xiao's PE teacher Chow Wai-yip said he was not aware of the teenager's condition and had never seen his health declaration form until his death. Chow added that he would not have allowed Xiao to run if he knew about his chest pains. Ma admitted in court that the school failed to issue consent letters for PE class to parents. But she said the school had conducted a review after the incident.

Forensic pathologist Tony Lam testified in court that Xiao died from an abnormal heartbeat caused by myocarditis.

The Education Bureau said last night it will conduct a research on the court's suggestions. It said it attached great importance to students' safety and will keep updating its guidelines for schools based on experts' opinions.

wallis.wang@singtaonewscorp.com