Mum Sues After Son Dies From Snake Bite While on School Excursion

A mother is suing after her seven-year-old son died due to an alleged snake bite during school excursion.

Melbourne mum Xiaoying Tan is suing the Victorian government and the owners of Mount Morton Camp and Conference Centre at Belgrave Heights, where her son, Junpeng Tan, reportedly suffered the fatal bite.

The Herald Sun reported that Ms Tan is suing the state, which operates the Rowville Primary School, and the owners of Mount Morton Camp and Conference Centre at Belgrave Heights where the class was visiting.

Junpeng was on a Grade 1 school excursion to Belgrave Recreational Reserve, in Melbourne’s outer east, when he was reportedly bitten by a brown snake on October 15, 2013. Teachers tried to revive Junpeng when he went into cardiac arrest but he tragically died later at the Royal Children’s Hospital.

The pathologist who did the autopsy said that while there was no evidence of any injury that would have contributed or led to the death of the boy, “it seems reasonable to determine that this unfortunate young fellow has succumbed to a snake bite”.

The eastern brown snake is a common culprit in snakebites on humans and domestic pets.

Ms Tan is seeking damages for pain and suffering and loss of earnings. In a writ lodged this week in the County Court, she accused the school and the reserve operators of being negligent in their supervision and duty of care towards her son.

Maurice Blackburn lawyer Dimi Ioannou said her client was “devastated” over her son’s death, which they believe was preventable.

“We allege that the school failed to adequately supervise, protect and take proper care of Junpeng. We also allege that the operators of the camp failed to ensure as far as was reasonably practicable that the premises were safe and without risks or hazards that were likely to cause unnecessary injury or death,” Ms Loannou told the Herald Sun.

Ms Tan says she now suffers a major depressive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, shock and anxiety and unresolved grief after the unexpected and tragic death of her only child.

Source: Kidspot.com.au