An autopsy report has confirmed that 4-year-old Miguel Ovoke, a student at Brickhall School, Abuja died after choking on a piece of meat in his homemade lunch.
The tragic incident occurred on April 24, 2024, during the school’s lunch break.
According to the school’s statement, Miguel began choking on the meat in his lunch, which consisted of rice, stew, plantain and assorted meat.
“When the emergency maneuvers to free his throat proved futile, he was rushed to the sick bay where our certified nurse also carried out the appropriate emergency medical responses to dislodge the piece of meat, but to no avail,” the school said.
Miguel was then taken to the nearby Excel Specialist Hospital, where he was unfortunately pronounced dead. The hospital issued a medical report stating that the cause of death was asphyxiation.
The school said it immediately notified Miguel’s parents of the incident. It also conducted an autopsy at the National Hospital, with representatives from all interested parties present. The autopsy confirmed that Miguel had indeed choked on a piece of Offal/meat.
“The autopsy result showed that Miguel choked on a piece of meat in his home-made lunch,” the school said in its statement.
Following the release of the autopsy report, Miguel’s parents have “accepted the incident as ‘an act of God’,” the school said.
The school also noted that the statement had become necessary, as they had insisted earlier that they would not make any official statement or comment on the cause of death without a valid autopsy report from a reputable hospital.
To honor Miguel’s memory, the school was shut down for eight days to mourn him and has named an early years resource room after him. The school also said it will support a foundation that Miguel’s parents plan to establish in his name.
“Once again, our hearts go out to late Miguel’s parents, family, classmates, and friends over the sad incident. May God continue to comfort them,” the school’s statement concluded.
The statement read: Autopsy report:
“Keeping the records straight on the late Miguel Ovoke
“Following the painful incident of 24th April 2024 when we lost one of our angels, the late Miguel Ovoke, to the cold hands of death, we received so many media inquiries. However, as a law-abiding institution and in difference to the sensibilities of his grieving parents and the Brickhall family, we had explained that we had already submitted to an autopsy to determine the cause of Late Miguel’s death and promised to make the outcome public.
“The autopsy became very crucial, especially against the backdrop of insinuations and wilful misinformation Miguel died of causes other than choking on his meat.”
An autopsy was performed on the remains of Miguel at the National Hospital, Abuja with all the interested parties nominating a medical doctor representative. The autopsy result showed that Miguel choked on a piece offal/meat in his home-made lunch.
For the sake of context and to refresh our memories, as a matter of school policy, parents and guardians of our children are free to subscribe to school lunch or bring their meals from home.
On the fateful day, Miguel Ovoke brought his home-made lunch consisting of rice, stew, plantain and assorted meat (offal).
During the lunch break, it was observed that he was choking on his meat. When the emergency manoeuvres to free his throat proved futile, he was rushed to the sick bay where our certified nurse also carried out the appropriate emergency medical responses to dislodge the piece of meat, but to no avail.
The school nurse and other management staff quickly took Miguel Ovoke to Excel Specialist Hospital, which is about 300 metres away from the school premises for more comprehensive medical treatment. The school also called the parents of Miguel and informed them of the situation. Very sadly, the doctor declared him dead. The hospital issued a medical report stating that the late Miguel died from asphyxiation.
Meanwhile, following the release of the autopsy report, which confirmed that the child choked on a piece of meat, the parents have accepted the incident as “an act of God”. Therefore, the school, having also obtained a certified true copy (CTC) of the autopsy from the Nigeria Police, it is only imperative on our part as a responsible institution to update the numerous inquirers, concerned members of the public, and friends of Brickhall School on the autopsy findings as promised and thus bring closure to the matter
Brickhall School had initially declined to make a statement on the issue until the autopsy was conducted and this was necessary because of some misinformation that the boy died from other causes other than choking which the school and medical professionals tried everything possible to dislodge without success.
However, while a closure is brought to this matter, late Miguel will forever remain dear to us. Thus, besides shutting down for eight days earlier to mourn late Miguel, we have
equally named the early years resource room after him. We will also support the foundation, which his parents intend to establish in his memory.
Once again, our hearts go out to late Miguel’s parents, family, classmates, and friends over the sad incident. May God continue to comfort them.
Lastly, we are very thankful to friends and members of the Brickhall family, especially the parents’ body that stood by us and also helped to provide succour to the bereaved family throughout the trying period.
