WHITE RIVER – Uplands College is in mourning after the tragic death of Tinotenda Chitando, a grade 10 pupil, this week. The incident occurred on Wednesday while on a three-kilometre hike during the annual “grade 10 journey”.
The event is held within a 70-kilometre radius of the school. The learners are split into four groups, two girls and two boys and the journey entails a hike, bike and canoe experience.
It is a circular rotational route and all groups cover the same area, starting at different points and ending up where they began.
Tinotenda apparently started feeling ill while they were on the hike and approached the group leader. They made him sit down, but despite the efforts of the leader who is well qualified in first aid, his health rapidly deteriorated. When emergency medical personnel arrived, they tried to resuscitate him. He was rushed to Mediclinic Nelspruit by ambulance, where it was confirmed that he had died.
The school informed Tino’s parents, Winston and Irene Chitando, who had to rush back from Zimbabwe. “All our actions must be governed by what is in the best interests of the Chitando family, the children and grade 10s who were with him at the time, his friends, their parents and the Uplands community,” the school said in a press release.
According to the statement, they have spent time with the group of boys who were with Tino and while they were emotional and shocked, they were very strong and resolute, ”They are now calling it the Chitando Journey. There is a strong sense of camaraderie among them and several staff members, including the school councillor, are camping with them.”
The school said that in every crisis one needs to react appropriately. “We must not be tempted to overreact and we certainly must not underreact. The school leadership has met with the organising team of the journey and key involved parents and are satisfied that this incident was not caused by undue physical stress to Tino. We are convinced that appropriate steps were taken to ensure proper hydration, nutrition and personal safety.”
No information regardng funeral arrangements was available at the time of going to press.
