A 17 year old Nigerian boy, Jamal Ottun, a student of Wallington
County Grammar School in South London drowned while swimming with his
school mates at the Shawnigan lake on Vancouver Island, Canada on Sunday
July 12th. According to reports, the talented sportsman was in Canada
with his school's Rugby team for a Rugby tour when
the sad incident happened. He had gone swimming with his team mates when
he drowned. Efforts to revive him afterwards failed. He was his
father's only
son. After the cut is a statement released by the school on his death..
Jamal with his family. His mum is demanding full investigation into his death...
 |
| Photo of Jamal with his friends some days before he drowned |
It is with great sadness that we
now confirm that
during a
scheduled
swimming trip
on Sunday 12
th
July 2015
,
whilst on the School rugby
tour to Canada,
Jamal Ottun, a
n
extremely
popular
and talented Y
ear 12 student,
required
support from the em
ergency services. Despite their
response, and the con
siderable efforts of the
S
chool’s
own staff and students, Jamal could not be saved and sadly passed away at the scene.
Jamal was an exemplary Walcountian. During his time with us he developed a true love for Wallington County
Grammar School and this was reciprocated by those who knew him
too. He was a very generous individual,
always looking for the best in people and wanting to help them achieve great things. Jamal would have
continued to be a fantastic role model
for others
in the
S
chool and beyond, and would have un
doubtedly
become a gr
eat leader as House Captain of Carew as part of the School’s House System.
Jamal was a very keen sportsman, be it on the rugby pitch, the running track or excelling in virtually any other
sporting activity. The short time that he did spend on this trip was
characterised by tremendous fun as
demonstrated by the photographs that he had already shared with family and friends.
Jamal’s family are obviously devastated by these events, and our thoughts and prayers are with them all at this
time.
We will continue t
o work closely with the family and are ensuring that no effort is spared in supporting
them.
Our thoughts are also with the staff and students who were with Jamal, and
who
are having to cope with this
tragedy
.
The tour has now been curtailed and the studen
ts and staff will be returning to the UK shortly.
This tragic event has left a huge hole in the WCGS community, and
this
is keenly felt by all staff, students and
others who have com
e into contact with Jamal. The S
chool is offering
professional internal an
d external
support to all students and staff, and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future
.
Our tremendous thanks go out to our hosts, Shawnigan Lake School, for the support that
they have offered us,
and also to the authorities in British Columb
ia who are also working closely with us.
I am sure that you will want to join with us in
remembering
an extraordinary young man. T
he
S
chool
has
created
an area for remembrance at the front of
School.
This area will be available to access by anyone within
t
he WCGS community
.
Jonathan Wilden
Headmaster Wallington County Grammar School
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