Pupil dies on school hike

A HILTON College pupil died during a school adventure programme in Lesotho and another lost an arm in a separate incident while climbing in the Drakensberg this week.

Chris Loxton, 15, suffered multiple seizures while hiking in Sehlabathebe National Park, Lesotho.

The Grade 9 pupil later died in an ambulance en route to hospital in Kokstad on Friday.

In another incident, a boulder fell on Xilombe Tlakula, 14, also from Hilton. He was taking part in the school’s leadership excursion in Tseke Tseke Pass in Cathedral Peak, southern Drakensberg. His right arm was amputated on Thursday.

Some of the team in Tlakula’s group trekked up the pass for about an hour to get a cellphone signal while the rest stayed behind with the teenager and tried to stop him from bleeding excessively.

Paul Guthrie, the school’s spokesman, said the boys in the two groups would receive counselling over the next few days.

“We have been doing these outings to the Drakensberg and other areas formany years and it’s the first time this kind of tragedy has happened.

“Once we have received an incident report we will be reviewing certain things,” said Guthrie.

According to the school’s website, the pupils left on Outward Bound excursions on Tuesday to learn about teamwork, leadership and enjoying the outdoors.