Girl dies after being hit by ball at UK school

Basildon - A 12-year-old girl died after a rugby ball struck her in the chest during a PE class at a school in the UK this morning.

The Guardian reported that Leonie Jo Nice, a student at Woodlands Comprehensive School, was trying to catch the ball when it struck her and she fell, appearing to have a fit. She was given CPR and emergency services were called. "Our trained first aiders gave chest compressions at the scene and the ambulance arrived quickly.," the Basildon Recorder quoted Andy White, head teacher, as saying. The East of England Ambulance Service was alerted and an ambulance, a fast response car and a duty manager went to the school. "The ambulance crew arrived at the scene within one minute and found the girl in a critical condition," said EEAST spokesman Gary Sanderson. "Following rapid treatment and stabilisation by the ambulance crews, she was taken to an awaiting medical team at Basildon Hospital where sadly she died shortly after." White described Leonie as a "promising, delightful and kind girl who will be greatly missed by all the staff and pupils of Woodlands School.” He added that pupils and students were informed of the girl's death and students who require support were being looked after by school staff and specialist staff from Essex County Council’s support team. Last month Digital Journal reported the story of a 16-year-old boy who was killed after being struck in the head by a cricket ball during a fight on school grounds in Bournemouth.