THIS is the 15-year-old schoolboy who died yesterday after a fight between pupils.
David Sandham lost his battle for life following the lunchtime brawl in an annexe behind Broadoak High School, in Warbuton Road, Partington.
Police are today continuing to question two 14-year-old boys arrested in connection with the incident. They are investigating whether bullying had any part and believe CCTV pictures could hold the key.
The tragedy happened after a confrontation earlier yesterday involving David and other pupils. It is thought an arrangement was made to meet later to solve the disagreement with a fight.
The Manchester Evening News understands that during that fight David lurched backwards to avoid a blow and hit his head against a door frame.
Police suspect that three pupils may have been involved in the latter incident, apart from David, and at least one more arrest is expected. Today officers involved in the police investigation remained baffled as to how exactly David died.
Police believe that because there were no obvious marks on David's body further medical tests will be necessary once the post-mortem examination is complete.
The first of up to 60 pupils are being video-interviewed by officers as part of a huge investigation.
David's family, who live near the school in Partington, were today too upset to talk, but family friends described him as a "well-mannered" boy who was not known for being in trouble at school.
The two 14-year-old boys were arrested at the school yesterday.
Headteacher Mr Downes, who has taught at Broadoak for 26 years, was continuing to reassure devastated pupils at the school today. He said: "The sudden death of one of our students in school came as a great shock to everyone.
"The circumstances leading to this tragic event are currently being investigated and our thoughts and sympathies right now are with the family concerned."
Police were called to the school at 12.30pm after receiving reports of a fight. Staff rang an ambulance and administered first-aid until paramedics arrived. David was taken to Trafford General Hospital, but died shortly after 1pm.
The row that ended with David's death was today reported to have started over a game of basketball. Between five and eight children were present when the teenager collapsed.
David's parents Anne and David, who are divorced, travelled to Trafford General Hospital after receiving news of the incident. David has four brothers, aged 16, 13, eight, and two and a 17-year-old sister.
Ian Platt, a Trafford councillor and chairman of Partington town council, said the whole community had been "devastated".
He said: "This will have an impact on the whole community. It is a shock. This is a very close-knit community and everywhere you turn, there will be somebody who knows that child.
"It is an excellent school that has a disciplinary record like any other school. It has not got a bad name. Our thoughts are with the boy's family."
According to a recent OFSTED report, four years ago, problems with bullying at the school were "infrequent and dealt with quickly".
Inspectors said attainment levels were below the national average, but above average in comparison with schools with pupils of similar backgrounds and that Mr Downes provided a "very strong, dynamic leadership and a very clear sense of direction for the school". Tweet
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i feel sorry for davids family it must be a great lost my love goes to you.And i hope you get to the bottom of this mistery
I arrived from a country which is notorious for it's voilence, crime, racism, low employment, the easy access of weapons. I have been resident in the UK for 5 years now. The criminal discomforts in my home country have been brought upon as a result of many political reasons, poverty, racism and poor social services and also by people who have nothing and have nothing to loose, no jobs, no homes etc. What is most disssappointing in this country and perhaps more so in my type area of residence is the terror that our community and working members of the United Kingdom subjected to by been terrorised by CHILDREN- who have are been supported by the social service that supported by the tax payers!!? Vandalism, bullying, unsafe schools, unsafe methods of transport (i.e railways), disrespect, aggresiveness, disruption of the peace all done by minors - This is very suprising to experience for me and very frightening, even more frightening than my home town. In the country of my birth were taught to understand the situation and how to avoid these type situation in order to help live a relatively safe way of life. I have chosen to live my life has a country whose social behaviour control, in the last five years got worse and the entire country is heading towards been under the terror and intimidation of young children that we indirectly work pay to provide for??
This particular incident is pathetic, sad, and done without even having weapons!!! This is not the first or the last incident that we will see, and I will not have my family live or visit in fear of their misunderstanding of the dangerous malicious children that roaming the streets who are quiet literally getting away with murder and adopting an attitude that nothing can be done because they are under age. I never thought I would see the day I would fear children who are been looked after by the social security and who I believe will endanger my families well being while their precious money is been spent in this country in good faith.
i have never allowed my 2 sons to believe violence is acceptable in any form its not this time it has led to a terrible tragedy. the boys involved should be named and shamed they had a fight on school premises why support them or their families. i would never allow my sons to go to this sort of school in this sort of area enough said
I do not live in Partington, but have strong links with the community there. I am always surprised at the lack of media coverage there is on incidents that occur there. I often hear of things that hapen there but they are seldom on the news.
This very very sad incident is just the same. I can't help but feel that if David had died at school in any other area the incident would have been headline news for days. Instead, it only featured on the local news in any detail yesterday evening. National news just mentioned it in pasing. Similar incidents in other areas in the past have atracted such attention that the victims have become names we all know. In this case it is nearly forgotten, in place of David Blunkett's train ticket scandal.
Why are the people of Partington often forgotten about?
Maybe this is a blessing for the family and friends of David and the others involved, they need privacy now to deal with their grief. My thoughts go out to them.
spare a thought to david sandham family alessia lovera show abit of dignity, there is a time & a place for letters like yours? god bless the sandham family my thoughts are with you at this sad time.
I've known Anne and Dave for three years now, and i can't say i've ever seen more devoted parents, my heart goes out to this entire family this loss is too great to even begin to find the words for. Just know that you're loved and this horrific tragity well lets hope that the youths of today will learn that no matter what the circomstances voilence is never a way to solve any problem nomatter how great or small. Your son was a lovely boy, and all over the would our hearts are sad for his losing his life....love you krissy xxx
ive known anne and dave for a while, im devastated at their loss of little david thomas, my heart and soul go out to the family, anne and dave we are all thinking of you xxxx
My prayers and thoughts are with the family of David ,my you find comfort in each other and my God be with you all.
its tradgic that this incident has happend in the first place, but over a game of basketball its just plain stupid. sadly however in todays society where "being hard" is the only way to be "cool" fights are a very common occurence. most fights that happen in school go undetected, however much the schools claim that they have a good dicapline.
i think bullying is out of control my freind s daughter as been through hell due to constuctive bullying even to the point of wanting to take her life.she attends kingsway high school in stockport.the school are aware it as huge problem but do not know how to deal with it.it has even reduced lunchtimes because of the violence that goes on.
This sort of school in this sort of area?? Jennie from Sale get off your high horse and wake up! Bullying happens everywhere. Not just Partington. My newphew was bullied at a school in Altrincham by a boy from Sale!!
I grew up in Partington and I went to Broadoak school. I wasnt bullied and I left school with a good education and went on to university. I find comments like yours offensive. I live in Sale now but I am aware that the people in Sale dont breed angels either Jennie!!! Just look around Sale in the evenings.
My heart goes out to Davids family and Friends.
The good solid community will help them through this tragic time I am sure.
Its come out now that david could of died anywhere because of his heart condition but my friends and i still feel the two boys are to blame. David is sadly missed. R.I.P
i hope who ever did this is feeling guilty i admit i use to get bullied in school its terrible but sumthing like this is terrible i give my deepest sympothy to davids family and i hope the sweet little angel rest in peace coz u will never be forgotten
my thoughts are with the family though. :)
I lived in partington and went to school with David and he was a friend, he is missed loads and we all hope he R.I.P love you David,
Broadoak was a good school and the teachers are allways there 4 u im 16 now i left when i was in yr 11 and miss the school R.I.P David we all loved you,