Boy, 17, dies on school charity trip to 129F Morocco
A BOY collapsed and died in front of his classmates on a school trip to Morocco. Sam Boon was on the second day of a five- day trek with ten friends when he passed out in extreme heat.
Attempts to revive the 17-year- old failed and he was pronounced dead shortly after being taken to a medical centre.
He and his fellow pupils from the Business Academy in Bexley, Kent, had spent months raising £12,000 to fund their working trip to help build a school for Moroccan children.
The results of a post-mortem examination have not been released yet but
‘It has knocked everyone for six’
one theory is that Sam may have suffered heat exhaustion. Over the past week temperatures in Morocco, which borders the Sahara, have reached 129F (49C).
Sam’s parents, Karen and security firm boss Kenneth, have flown out to Morocco to bring home his body.
Last night his uncle, Dave Boon, said: ‘He was a lovely child, and he never caused an ounce of a problem for anyone.
‘He was just very intelligent and unfailingly polite. He was never in any sort of trouble, and worked hard at everything he put his mind to. He was so excited about the Morocco trip.’
Yesterday a stream of well-wishers left flowers outside the fourbedroom family home Sam had shared with his brother Luke, 13.
Tuesday’s tragedy cut short the school trip and the group flew back to the UK on Thursday.
A friend who did not want to be named said: ‘ Everyone is really shocked at school. Nobody really knows how it happened. He was a big guy, but he didn’t seem unhealthy. It has just knocked everyone for six.’
The trip was organised by travel specialists World Challenge, which provides educational expeditions in the developing world.
It started with the five-day trek for students and teachers in the N’fis valley in the Amizmiz region of Morocco.
The World Challenge ethos is to give youngsters the chance to explore different cultures.
The company has flown a team to Morocco to help the family.
A spokesman said: ‘He collapsed on the trek and they tried to resuscitate him. He was immediately transferred to a local medical centre where he was pronounced dead shortly afterwards.’ The 11 students had raised funds for the trip by holding a car boot sale, a quiz night and a Moroccan-themed evening.
Elvin Ciftci, who works in a cafe near the school, said: ‘I remember Sam. They all came in here almost every day when they were planning their trip.
‘They were so excited about it and had been getting ready for months. They were making a film about their expedition. Sam was always very polite, never moody. Everyone is so upset.’
Sam Elms, chief executive of the Business Academy, said: ‘It’s a very, very sad time for us. We have staff and students very upset about it as you can imagine when you lose one of your own community.
‘Our concern and sympathies are with the parents. They are in deep grief. It’s absolutely shocking. Our thoughts are with the family and our priority is supporting the family and the school community through the loss of one of their own.’
Sam, who was studying A-levels including physics and maths, was three weeks from his 18th birthday.
Speaking before the trip, fellow pupil Danielle Kember had said: ‘The trip will not only enable us to help build a community within a deprived area of Morocco but it will help us to find out more about ourselves.’