A nine-year-old boy is in Hawke’s Bay Regional Hospital after an incident at a local primary school this afternoon.
Emergency services were called to Taradale Primary School at 1.15pm after the boy was found in the school grounds unconscious and having difficulty breathing. He was immediately taken to hospital where he remains in a critical condition.
At this stage it is not yet known how the boy became injured. Police are talking to staff at the school to try to ascertain the circumstances of what took place.
Taradale Primary School principal Marty Hantz said the school was working closely with police and the Ministry of Education to determine what happened.
School had continued as usual this afternoon and parents were being sent a letter today regarding the incident. Any pupils who were upset by the incident were being offered specialist support services if needed.
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Any media queries to Eastern District Communications Manager Kris McGehan on 027 2223638.