“Im Just Afraid, I Just Want to Make Sure My Child is Okay”

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NASSAU , BAHAMAS – A tragedy at a high school Monday morning quickly escalating into panic after a male student was struck and killed by lightning shortly after arriving on campus.

What followed was chaos and heartbreak, as parents flooded the school searching for answers after learning of the incident through social media, leaving some still shaken up.

Italia, definitely a tragic and sombre day here at R.M. Bailey, as a 16-year-old boy, Anton Bowe, was tragically killed by a lightning strike.

Official reports tell us that shortly after 9 a.m., Bowe had just walked through the school gates and, after being searched by security, was making his way further into the school when he was fatally struck.

EMS responded and transported him to hospital, where he was pronounced dead at about 9:30 Monday morning.

But while the school community was trying to process the tragedy, another wave of panic was unfolding outside these gates.

The news circulated on social media before many parents say they received any official notification from the school, and that left parents frantically trying to get to their children.

Parent
“I just afraid and I just want to make sure my child okay. I want to go get my child.”

That was the cry among many parents who say they found out about the tragedy through a social media post.

Parents crowded the school, some frantically trying to collect their children, others simply desperate for answers, wanting to know if their child was okay, even before school was officially dismissed.

Parent
“No, I was trying to get in contact. I was trying to call him and I wasn’t getting no answer, so I came.”

Parent
“Yes, I want to take my child out of school. I’m leaving with my child today.”

Another parent says she learned of the incident while checking out at a local business.

She says she became so overwhelmed with emotion that she dropped everything and rushed over to the school.

Parent
“I am terrified. I am terrified, even me standing out there. Because like I said, it could happen to any one of us, you know.”

And with the weather still unsettled, another parent says she simply wanted her children home, not willing to take any chances.

Parent
“Most of the Bahamian kids have to walk to school. And in this type of weather, you know, basically, and lightning, I just want to be safer than sorry. That’s basically it.”

But along with the fear came frustration.

Some parents questioned why they had not been contacted sooner, saying they should not have had to learn about such a tragic incident through social media.

Parent
“But we didn’t hear anything, and to find out, I understand this happened from this morning.”

Parent
“I feel like they should have reached out to the parents from the minute that it happened, you know. But it’s, it’s, it’s really scary.”

Now, Italia, we did get a response from education officials, who say they wanted to first ensure the mental and emotional well-being of staff and students before simply releasing them.

And as parents continue to question whether it is safe to send their children to school tomorrow, given the weather conditions, officials say the situation will be assessed day by day.

The ministry says that as long as students can safely get to their classrooms, school will proceed.

But for this school community, the focus now is on helping students and staff through a tragedy that has changed this school forever.