High School Student Dies Despite Efforts to Save Him (Correction: South Carolina Trip)

MEDIA CONTACT: Mark E. Brady, Fire/EMS Chief Spokesperson
240-508-7930

mebrady@co.pg.md.us     @PGFDPIO

At about 1:15 am, Saturday, April 11, Firefighters and Medics were dispatched to a report of a person stopped breathing. Fire/EMS units, including a Paramedic Engine, Ambulance and a Paramedic Ambulance, from Oxon Hill responded on the call.  

Units arrived at a gasoline station at 5622 St Barnabas Road in Oxon Hill and encountered a tour bus with students from Bowie High School on board. CPR was already being being administered to a teenaged male.  Firefighter/Medics took over care of the patient, provided advanced life support and transported to a local hospital.

Despite the very best efforts by everyone involved the 16-year-old male was pronounced deceased at the hospital a short time after his arrival.

The bus passengers included students from Bowie High School.  They were returning from a field trip to South Carolina.  

The student appears to have suffered an unknown medical emergency while the bus was traveling on the Capital Beltway.  The bus driver, upon learning of the medical emergency, exited the Beltway to the first safest location to stop.  Because the initial medical emergency occurred on the Capital Beltway, the Maryland State Police will be following up on this incident.

The Prince George's County Public Schools released this statement earlier today:

Prince George’s County Public Schools is saddened by this loss of Okon Ntekim. We send our deepest sympathy to the Ntekim family. PGCPS will do everything it can to support the entire Bowie High School community during this difficult time.

Sherrie A. JohnsonPublic Information OfficerOffice of CommunicationsPrince George's County Public Schools

The exact cause of death is not known .