The Singapore Sports School has taken swift action in response to a safety protocol breach that resulted in the tragic death of 14-year-old student-athlete Pranav Madhaik. The school’s badminton coach has been dismissed after an investigation revealed a lapse in safety procedures that may have contributed to the young athlete’s untimely passing.
Safety Protocol Breach
Pranav Madhaik, a Secondary 2 student-athlete at the Singapore Sports School, passed away following a 400m fitness time trial on October 5. Investigations into the incident have found that a safety lapse occurred as Pranav’s badminton coach failed to check on his well-being before leaving the training track.
After completing his time trial session at approximately 6:26 pm on October 11, Pranav reported feeling unwell to his coach. While time trials and conditioning sessions are a routine part of student-athletes’ training regimens, the coach was aware of Pranav’s discomfort and advised him to rest. Pranav complied and rested at the starting point of the track, while the coach continued with his duties, including reviewing time-trial data on his phone.
Unfortunately, the coach did not realize that Pranav remained at the same location. Instead of ensuring the well-being of the student-athlete, the coach left the premises after briefing other student-athletes on competition matters. This departure without accounting for all student-athletes was a breach of the school’s safety protocols.
Immediate Actions and Consequences
In response to this breach, the Singapore Sports School has taken swift and decisive action. The badminton coach has been served a notice of dismissal. The school has also initiated a comprehensive review of its safety protocols and emphasized to all coaches and staff the critical importance of strict adherence to these procedures.
The investigation revealed that while Pranav was resting, he interacted with several groups of student-athletes passing by, and none of them noticed anything unusual about his condition.
It wasn’t until around 6:35 pm that a track and field coach, who was passing by, noticed Pranav’s condition. The coach quickly assessed the situation, recognized that Pranav was struggling to get up even with assistance from other students, and promptly activated the school’s boarding staff to provide assistance.
An ambulance was called at about 6:50 pm, and Pranav’s parents were informed. He was transported to the National University Hospital, accompanied by the badminton coach, who had returned to the school premises after initially leaving.
Despite receiving medical care, Pranav passed away on October 11. The cause of death was determined to be cardiac arrest with an antecedent cause of congenital malformation of coronary vessels.
Condolences and Support
The Singapore Sports School expressed its deepest condolences to Pranav’s family and is providing support to the grieving family during this difficult time. The tragic incident has highlighted the importance of strict safety protocols and the need for diligence in ensuring the well-being of student-athletes during training sessions.
