A child diagnosed with autism was unintentionally trapped inside a sports shed at her school during a sweltering day. Ruby, an 8-year-old student at Manning Gardens Public School in Taree, Australia, was left inside the shed without air conditioning or ventilation, according to her father, Matthew Everingham.
Matthew and his partner, Brooke, realized something was amiss when they arrived to pick up Ruby from school but couldn’t locate her among the other children. Concerned classmates informed them that Ruby was missing. Eventually, Matthew spotted his daughter in tears as she was escorted out of the shed by a special needs aide.
The father alleged that Ruby, who possesses a photographic memory and an interest in survival TV shows, may have sought refuge in the shed during an outdoor activity. Despite staff claiming to have checked the shed before closing it, Ruby was inadvertently locked inside for approximately five minutes on a scorching 31°C day.
Expressing his outrage, Matthew criticized the lack of communication from the school, stating that they did not inform him of Ruby’s disappearance. Following the incident, the NSW Department of Education contacted Matthew and arranged for Ruby to transfer to a different school in the vicinity.
In response to the incident, a spokesperson for the NSW Department of Education acknowledged the oversight, stating that steps have been taken to enhance student safety protocols at the school. They reassured that the student was unharmed and did not require medical attention, adding that counseling services are being offered to the family.
The Mirror has sought comments from Manning Gardens Public School regarding the incident.
