Grade 12 Student Dies In Zambia After Drinking Ethanol In School’s Lab, 4 Other Students Hospitalized

Source: Africa Publicity

A 12th grade student has died in Zambia after reportedly drinking ethanol in a school’s science laboratory. Four other students who also reportedly drank the ethanol are said to be hospitalized and battling for their lives.

According to local media reports, the students of Ndola, numbering 18 in total, gained access to their school’s science laboratory and drank the ethanol.

Reports the student who died is aged 17. According to reports, the deceased was pronounced dead at Roan Antelope General Hospital in Luanshya in the early hours of Monday.

Copperbelt police commanding officer Pathias Siandenge has told the media in a statement that on Sunday, the school’s clinical officer was informed that some pupils, including the deceased, had entered the laboratory and consumed an unknown substance.

According to Mr. Siandenge, upon inspection, the head of the natural sciences department discovered that a 2.5-litre bottle of ethanol was missing.

He says in the statement “Around 01:00 hours, the pupils were rushed to Roan General Hospital. Unfortunately, one of them died upon arrival,”

According to him, four other pupils are still admitted to hospital in critical condition, while 13 others were treated as outpatients.