A tragic incident at the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) has resulted in the death of a student, Michael Coker, who collapsed during an examination. The event occurred at the institution's Victoria Island study centre in Lagos, raising serious questions about emergency response protocols.
Eyewitness Account of the Tragic Collapse
The incident unfolded on Tuesday, December 16, shortly after students entered the examination hall. According to a fellow student identified as Bukola, Coker was standing in line when he suddenly collapsed. Another student behind him caught him and laid him on the floor.
Bukola's account, given to Punch on December 23, alleges that a female senior lecturer from an adjacent hall intervened in a distressing manner. "She started chasing everyone away to write their exams, even though the student was on the floor, gasping," Bukola stated. When informed of the situation, the lecturer reportedly responded in Yoruba, 'E fi sílè, ó máa dìde,' which translates to 'Leave him; he will get up.'
For over 15 minutes, Coker lay unattended, gasping for breath and jerking, while students were ordered to focus on their tests. Bukola described the frantic moments where students asked if he had epilepsy or was convulsing, with someone even suggesting putting a spoon in his mouth to prevent him from swallowing his tongue.
Delayed Response and Fatal Consequences
Help was critically delayed. "It was only when his breathing became unstable that one of the invigilators said they had called a nurse," Bukola explained. Moving him to a chair took another five minutes. A nurse eventually administered first aid, and he was taken downstairs via elevator to seek further medical assistance.
Students were instructed to continue with their examination. It was only after finishing that they received the devastating news: Michael Coker had died.
Another student, Prince Preskit, who was the class representative, offered a slightly different perspective. He believed the invigilator initially wanted to give Coker space. "It was when they realised that something was seriously wrong that he was taken downstairs and rushed to the hospital before his eventual death," Preskit said.
Hospital Transfer and Management Denial
Preskit disclosed that Coker was first taken to Bonny Camp Hospital. "I heard he was rejected and later died on the way to another hospital," he told the publication. This claim sparked significant tension among the student body, with many blaming the lecturer for the delayed response.
However, the management of Bonny Camp Hospital strongly denied rejecting the patient. A hospital official clarified to Punch, "The patient was not rejected. He was referred to another facility where oxygen would be available."
The aftermath of the incident saw palpable anger and confusion among students. Preskit noted, "Students started shouting that it was the woman who did not allow them to take him to the hospital on time." The tragedy highlights sudden medical emergencies in academic settings and the paramount importance of prepared and immediate emergency action.
