In a tragic incident on Tuesday, a 12-year-old boy, Yahshua Robinson, collapsed and later died after being compelled to run in sweltering heat during his physical education class at Canyon Lake Middle School in Lake Elsinore, California.
NBC Los Angeles reported that around 11 am, the temperature was in the low to mid-90s when Robinson became unresponsive. He was promptly transported to Loma Linda University Medical Center, where, according to his family, he suffered a cardiac arrest.
Amanda Plummer, Robinson's aunt, informed the media outlet that her nephew was made to run because he had not dressed appropriately for the physical education class that day. Fellow students reported that Robinson started feeling unwell and was pleading for water.
Plummer quoted Robinson's desperate pleas to his teacher, "He was reaching out to the teacher, saying he needed some water. He said he couldn't breathe. He was telling the kids this. She expressed her disbelief at the school's decision, questioning, "Why would you have a child in his clothes he didn't dress out running a field?
Plummer also revealed that Robinson's mother, a physical education teacher at a different school, had cautioned the school administrators against letting the children go outside due to the extreme heat. "She informs the administration, Do not let any children go out today for P.E. And what happened? She gets a call he passed out on the field, Plummer lamented. "This is terrible. It happened on somebody else's watch."
In the wake of this tragic event, Plummer set up a GoFundMe page, stating, "The void Yahshua leaves behind is profound. Janae & Eric Robinson and their three other children are trying to come to terms with this devastating reality." The statement further read, "The agony of losing a child is indescribable, and as we wait with heavy hearts for the autopsy results, we are reminded of the unpredictability of life."
The statement also called for community support, saying, "It is during times like these that we as a community can come together to support one another. From the depths of our hearts, we thank you for standing alongside the Robinson family, for being their beacon of hope, and for showing that love and compassion remain resilient even in the face of overwhelming sorrow."
In response to the incident, the Lake Elsinore Unified School District issued a statement, confirming the availability of grief counselors and resources for students and staff. Our hearts are with the family, friends, and our school community, the statement read.
The Riverside County Sheriff's press release stated that several aspects of the incident are pending further investigation by its Lake Elsinore Station.
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