The Tribune

By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS

Tribune Staff Reporter

lmunnings@tribunemedia.net

R M Bailey High School’s community gathered yesterday to remember 16-year-old Anton Bowe, a Grade 11 student whose sudden death after being struck by lightning on the school grounds left his teachers and classmates struggling to come to terms with the tragedy.

Bowe was remembered as a quiet, funny and well-liked student who made an impression beyond his own classroom and was particularly proud of his involvement in the school’s technical studies programme.

Math teacher Delmon Rolle said he was devastated when he learned that the student killed in the incident was one of his own.

“After being told that a student died from what happened and finding out it is my student, it was very traumatising for my homeroom students and me also because, besides being in my math class, he is also known towards the whole grade 11, so my homeroom is a class he isn’t in, but it's a class he affected.”

English teacher Errie Samario remembered Bowe as a student whose personality endeared him to those around him.

“Fun character. Everybody loved him in his time; he is quiet, but he is funny at the same time.”

Mr Samario said the news left the school community in disbelief.

“When we heard about what happened yesterday, we were all shocked. I had to take a moment and let it just sink in because even now I cannot believe this could happen out of all the students under that tree, lightning strike one person, just one person.”

He said his thoughts remained with Bowe’s classmates, friends and family.

“I was so devastated yesterday, and I could imagine his colleagues in the class, his friends, his family. I cannot imagine the pain of the family at this time.”

Principal Shari Russell said Bowe’s contribution to the school extended well beyond his academic performance.

She described him as a student who made the school proud, particularly through the technical studies programme, but said those who knew him would remember him most for the way he treated others.

Ms Russell urged students to support one another as they cope with the loss.

“He represented what we tell our pacers every day: go in line, do your work, and be each other's people. That's the kind of pacer that we are going to remember him for.”

She also encouraged students and staff to seek help if they were struggling.

The memorial followed Monday’s tragedy, which unfolded shortly after 9am as severe weather moved across New Providence.

According to police, a security officer had searched Bowe and watched him walk away before he was reportedly struck by lightning and became motionless.

The school’s resource officer attempted to assist and observed that Bowe had suffered apparent burn injuries and was unresponsive. EMS personnel transported him to hospital, where police said he was pronounced dead at about 9.30am.

The incident prompted distressed parents to rush to the Robinson Road campus to collect their children, while concern spread across social media.

Director of Education Dominique McCartney-Russell said the school’s counsellors immediately began assisting those affected, particularly Bowe’s homeroom teacher.

Education Minister Chester Cooper also visited the school and offered condolences to Bowe’s family and the wider school community.

Mr Cooper said he had spoken with Bowe’s aunt and guardian, who is also a teacher, and offered condolences on behalf of the Ministry of Education, Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis and the government.

He said grief counselling had been arranged for students and teachers and would continue throughout the week as needed.

Additional counselling sessions were also planned, with pastors, counsellors and other partners expected to assist the school community.

Police said detectives have interviewed the security officer and remain in contact with the school’s principal and the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology as the investigation continues.

Following the memorial, the school was dismissed at noon yesterday.