West Vancouver Secondary School to offer counselling in grad tragedy
Last Updated: Tuesday, June 10, 2008 | 1:45 PM PT
CBC News
Extra counsellors will be at West Vancouver Secondary School to help students and staff deal with a tragic end to a graduation celebration.
Seventeen-year-old Alex Cheung was severely injured in an accident in the parking lot of the Park Royal Mall in West Vancouver on Saturday afternoon.
West Vancouver School District superintendent Geoff Jopson said those at West Vancouver Secondary are trying to cope.
"People are very worried for this young man and it's a sad day at the school — there's no doubt about that,” Jopson told CBC News.
"Services are available from our counselling staff to try and support any of the students who are experiencing emotional stress," said Jopson.
West Vancouver Police said five Grade 12 students including Cheung, about to graduate from West Vancouver Secondary School, were celebrating their upcoming graduation when the accident happened.
Cpl. Fred Harding said Cheung and his friends were participating in a grad rally race in the parking lot.
"It would appear he was seated either on the windowsill, or certainly not in his seat, with his head quite a long ways out of the car and, tragically, he hit a post as the car travelled past. He is gravely ill. He is, at this time, in hospital in a coma," Harding said.
He said the incident emphasizes the need for young people to be careful while celebrating their graduation.
"It should be a time of fun and joy, we all appreciate that, but we've got to work in a partnership to somehow end these needless tragedies,” said Harding.
