Health dept: Student could not have died of heatstroke

LABUAN: The Labuan Health Department has denied that the recent death of a Form Four student during a sports event here was due to heatstroke as the temperature that day was below 35°C.

Its director Dr Ismuni Bohari said the death of Norsahfiza Jaratin on Feb 17 was still being ascertained.

“The temperature on the island during the sports day was reported to be at 24°C to 31°C.

“The temperature was normal, and it was not possible to cause heatstroke,” he said in a statement here yesterday.

Postings and videos had gone viral on social media that the death of the SMK Rancha-Rancha student was due to heatstroke in view of the current hot weather.

Norsahfiza, 16, was running in the 200m race when she collapsed about 20m from the finishing line.

The 8.40am incident had taken place at the Labuan Matriculation College sports field.

Civil defence personnel gave her emergency aid before she was sent to the Labuan Nucleus Hospital emergency and trauma unit at 9.20am.

“Despite the student's critical condition, her body temperature was 37°C, which is normal human body temperature,” said Dr Ismuni.

He said Norsahfiza did not respond to emergency aid and resuscitation efforts, and she died at 9.45am the same day.

“A post-mortem has been conducted and the results will be out soon.

“Our department is affirming that her death was not due to heatstroke as alleged.

“We hope there will be no more viral postings on the incident,” said Dr Ismuni.