16 Year Old Student Killed After Being Struck by Lightning

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NASSAU , BAHAMAS – Severe weather is being blamed for a schoolyard tragedy that happening on Monday morning, where an 11th-grade, 16-year-old student was struck and killed by lightning while walking through the school gates of R.M. Bailey Senior High this morning.

The tragedy shook the entire school community and left a family in mourning.

At this hour, this school community is trying to come to terms with the sudden and tragic death of 16-year-old Anton Bowe, a student who came through these gates this morning expecting to start another day of school, but would never make it home.

His family, teachers and schoolmates are still trying to process this loss.

The odds of being struck by lightning in a given year are about 1 in 1.2 million. That’s according to the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

But on this rainy morning, those odds became a devastating reality right here at R.M. Bailey.

Shortly after 9 a.m., 16-year-old Anton Bowe had just walked through the school gates and undergone a security search when he was struck by lightning.

Emergency personnel tried to revive him on scene, transporting the teenager to hospital, but he died shortly after.

The news spread quickly, sending shockwaves through the community.

Education officials rushed to the campus to be with students, staff and, most importantly, the Bowe family.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Chester Cooper was among those offering his condolences.

Chester Cooper – Minister of Education
“We wanted to really be here today, present, standing with the family here in R.M. Bailey and with the family of the deceased, and we hope that God will give that family strength to understand and to persevere.”

Inside classrooms, the weight of the tragedy was already being felt.

Director of Education Dominique Russell met students and teachers deeply distraught, prompting the ministry to call in grief counsellors.

Dominique Russell – Director, Ministry of Education
“His homeroom teacher was very distraught and, you know, they were inconsolable. And so the counsellors provided grief counselling, as they normally do, and we thought it important for them to release them.”

And as the extreme weather continues to raise concerns for parents and students, education officials are also addressing the question of suspending school.

Dominique Russell – Director, Ministry of Education
“If those students have access to their classrooms and they are able to get to those classrooms, we allow them to stay in school.”

Tonight, condolences continue to pour in. In a statement, Prime Minister Philip Davis says he is deeply saddened by the tragedy. The Leader of the Opposition also expressed condolences to the family, calling it a loss no parent should have to experience, while commending the ministry for having counsellors on the ground.

The Coalition of Independents also extended thoughts and prayers to Bowe’s family and the R.M. Bailey community.

Jameelah, today was anything but a normal day at R.M. Bailey, and tomorrow will not be either.

The Ministry of Education says it will hold a mass grief counselling session here tomorrow under the pavilion.

They are asking their counselling partners and pastors to join them as they make support available not only to R.M. Bailey students and staff, but also to their sister school, C.H. Reeves.

Individual counselling sessions will also be available for as long as they are needed.