A 17 year old Nigerian boy, Jamal Ottun, a student of Wallington County Grammar School in South London drowned while swimming with his school mates at the Shawnigan lake on Vancouver Island, Canada on Sunday July 12th. According to reports, the talented sportsman was in Canada with his school's Rugby team for a Rugby tour when the sad incident happened. He had gone swimming with his team mates when he drowned. Efforts to revive him afterwards failed. He was his father's only son. After the cut is a statement released by the school on his death...
It is with great sadness that we now confirm that during a scheduled swimming trip on Sunday 12 th July 2015 , whilst on the School rugby tour to Canada, Jamal Ottun, a n extremely popular and talented Y ear 12 student, required support from the em ergency services. Despite their response, and the con siderable efforts of the S chool’s own staff and students, Jamal could not be saved and sadly passed away at the scene.
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| Photo of Jamal with his friends some days before he drowned |
Jamal was an exemplary Walcountian. During his time with us he developed a true love for Wallington County Grammar School and this was reciprocated by those who knew him too. He was a very generous individual, always looking for the best in people and wanting to help them achieve great things. Jamal would have continued to be a fantastic role model for others in the S chool and beyond, and would have un doubtedly become a gr eat leader as House Captain of Carew as part of the School’s House System.
Jamal was a very keen sportsman, be it on the rugby pitch, the running track or excelling in virtually any other sporting activity. The short time that he did spend on this trip was characterised by tremendous fun as demonstrated by the photographs that he had already shared with family and friends. Jamal’s family are obviously devastated by these events, and our thoughts and prayers are with them all at this time. We will continue t o work closely with the family and are ensuring that no effort is spared in supporting them.
Our thoughts are also with the staff and students who were with Jamal, and who are having to cope with this tragedy . The tour has now been curtailed and the studen ts and staff will be returning to the UK shortly. This tragic event has left a huge hole in the WCGS community, and this is keenly felt by all staff, students and others who have com e into contact with Jamal. The S chool is offering professional internal an d external support to all students and staff, and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future . Our tremendous thanks go out to our hosts, Shawnigan Lake School, for the support that they have offered us, and also to the authorities in British Columb ia who are also working closely with us.
I am sure that you will want to join with us in remembering an extraordinary young man. T he S chool has created an area for remembrance at the front of School. This area will be available to access by anyone within t he WCGS community . Jonathan Wilden Headmaster Wallington County Grammar School
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