Family mourn death of Glasgow ‘fight’ schoolboy

A SCHOOLBOY has died after collapsing following an alleged fight at a secondary school in Glasgow. Euan Craig, 14, who was a pupil at Rosshall Academy, died in the Southern General Hospital shortly after midday yesterday.

Another 14-year-old pupil was arrested following the incident, believed to have taken place inside the school, near the gym. The teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared at Glasgow Sheriff Court yesterday, charged with assault to severe injury and danger of life.

He made no plea or declaration and was released on bail, and the case was continued. The youngster, who appeared in court in a shirt and tie, made his appearance in private.

Police were called to the school in Crookston in the south side of the city at 11:45am on Wednesday. Euan was rushed to hospital shortly before noon and treated in the intensive care department.

His relatives were believed to have been at his bedside as he fought for life.

The school’s head teacher, Alison Mitchell, issued a statement about Euan’s death. It said: “The whole school community obviously feels a deep sense of grief and our thoughts are with his family at this devastating time. We are doing everything that we can to support all of our young people and staff.”

Police have been interviewing pupils and staff about the incident. Alistair Watson, Labour councillor for the Craigton, whose ward includes Rosshall Academy, said the community would band together “to support everyone at this tragic time”.

“It’s a dreadful, dreadful time for the whole community and my heart goes out to the parents who are going through the most unbelievable grief,” he said.

“It’s a terrific school and a huge part of the community. We will all pull together and support the pupils through this terrible time.”

A police spokeswoman said: “Sympathies are extended to his family. A full report will be submitted to the procurator fiscal.”

Yesterday afternoon the school was ringed by police. Two female police officers stood sentry at the front entrance, while a police van circled the property warning off members of the media from approaching the rear community entrance where pupils were said to have erected a temporary memorial of flowers and cards.

At one point a group of seven girls dressed in shorts and track-suit bottoms, arrived at the school to pay their respects. Two of the teenage girls were carrying a bouquet of pink and orange flowers.

Jim Fraser, whose nephew was a friend of Euan’s, described him as a “lovely wee guy”.

Mr Fraser said he regularly saw Euan walking the family’s dog on the nearby park grounds. He said: “It is absolutely shocking. What kind of world is it where you can’t send your son to school?

“He was a lovely wee boy. He was good friends with my nephew and my nephew is just devastated by what has happened. The boy has been to my house umpteen times and he was just a lovely wee boy.

“He and his group were all smart kids. They called them the geek squad and they were all in credit classes. Everyone is devastated and we feel for his family.”

According to reports the altercation began when pupils were sent out to play football on Wednesday morning. The victim is alleged to have kicked the ball and it struck another pupil in the face, who then began to beat him about the head.

The first pupil was then said to have been helped to a nearby bench where he collapsed.

After the incident on Wednesday friends had set up a Facebook page “Pray For Euan Craig” in the hope that he would pull through. Yesterday they began posting messages of sympathy.

Fellow pupil Allanah McMichael posted on the page: “Shine on kid! Have a blast wee man, you’ll meet us all again one day! Shine bright x.”

Close friend Chloe Martin posted: “Rip, God wanted an angel and he got one, didn’t deserve to die so young.”

Chloe Galbraith said: “RIP Euan. My thoughts go out to his family and close friends. No one deserves to die at the age of 14”

Local woman Fiona Todd added: “Another young life snuffed out needlessly . . . RIP Euan Craig thoughts and prayers with your family at this distressing time god bless x”.

In terraced houses behind the school many neighbours were reluctant to talk about the tragedy. One woman, who asked not to be named, said: “It is just a nightmare. It is awful and you don’t really know what to say.”

Another woman, who again did not wish to be named, said: “You can’t imagine what the family are going through. It is horrible and so, so sad.”

The school sits just a few hundred yards from Hall Hospital, a private hospital, and is considered by locals to be a good school with a strong reputation.

Yesterday a group of teenage boys, who did not attend the school, said they were also shocked by what happened.

One of the boys said: “I feel sorry for both of them. It sounds like a fight that went wrong. I don’t think he meant it.”

Among the parents who passed the school last night, one woman expressed a shared sentiment. “I have a boy the same age and I can’t think of anything worse than sending him off to school and never seeing him again. Can you imagine the pain his parents must be suffering?”