She Opened Her Lunchbox, Then Collapsed and Died
In a heartbreaking incident from Rajasthan’s Sikar district, a 9-year-old student died after suffering a sudden heart attack during school hours.
The child, identified as Prachi Kumawat, was a Class 4 student at Adarsh Vidya Mandir, located in Danta town. According to the school principal, Nand Kishore, the incident occurred around 11 am on Tuesday, while students were on the playground during their lunch break.
“She had just sat down and was about to eat. As she opened her lunchbox, it suddenly fell from her hands, and she collapsed,” said Kishore.
Immediate Medical Attention at CHC
The school staff acted quickly and took Prachi to the Community Health Centre (CHC) located just 500 metres away.
“At first, we thought it was a common fainting episode, something we’ve seen happen to students before. But her condition seemed serious, so we didn’t wait,” Kishore said.
Doctors at the CHC provided oxygen support and performed CPR. According to Dr. R.K. Jangid, posted at the CHC, Prachi had suffered a sudden cardiac arrest. Initial efforts appeared to help, as her condition seemed to stabilise briefly.
‘Referred to Sikar Hospital, But the Second Collapse Proved Fatal
Due to the critical nature of her condition, the CHC team referred her to Shri Kalyan Government Hospital in Sikar for advanced care. She was placed in a government ambulance and left the CHC around 12:15 pm.
“While on the way, she suffered another cardiac arrest. The attending medical staff tried everything, medications, injections, and CPR, but she didn’t respond,” the doctor said.
The school received word of her passing at 1:30 pm. It is unclear whether she passed away en route or upon reaching the hospital.
No Prior Heart Infections, Say Doctors
Dr. Jangid confirmed that the child had no known heart conditions or any history of medical issues. Since the case was considered a sudden cardiac arrest, no post-mortem examination was performed.
“We followed the cardiac arrest protocol: oxygen, resuscitation, rapid referral. Sadly, she didn’t survive,” he said.
Bright, Cheerful Child Remembered Fondly
Prachi was known to be a bright and enthusiastic student. “She was intelligent and had memorised multiplication tables up to 40. No matter what, she always smiled even if we scolded her,” Principal Kishore recalled.
Her last rites were performed at 4 pm on the same day. Prachi’s father, who works in a private company in Gujarat, was informed of the incident and reached home in time for the funeral.
Understanding Sudden Cardiac Arrest in Children
Although rare, sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) can occur in children and adolescents. Causes may include undiagnosed heart rhythm disorders, congenital heart defects, or inflammation due to infections.
In Prachi’s case, there were no previous signs or diagnoses that indicated a heart problem.
SCA causes the heart to suddenly stop beating, cutting off blood flow to the brain and other organs. Immediate response, such as CPR and access to emergency care, can sometimes restore a heartbeat, but survival depends heavily on speed and preparedness.
Conclusion
This tragic incident brings attention to the need for basic life support training in schools, regular student health check-ups, and better-equipped medical emergency systems, including the availability of defibrillators and trained first responders.
Even in young children, timely recognition and rapid action can be the difference between life and death.
Source: Inputs from various media Sources
Priya Bairagi
Reviewed by Dr Aarti Nehra (MBBS, MMST)
I’m a pharmacist with a strong background in health sciences. I hold a BSc from Delhi University and a pharmacy degree from PDM University. I write articles and daily health news while interviewing doctors to bring you the latest insights. In my free time, you’ll find me at the gym or lost in a sci-fi novel.
