Update 5pm: A teenager has handed himself in after a stabbing at Keira High School this afternoon.
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Police have confirmed a 14-year-old boy is assisting with inquiries.
Earlier: A student has been airlifted to hospital and another is on the run after a stabbing at a school in Wollongong on Friday afternoon.
Emergency services were called to Keira High School about 1.30pm to reports a student had been stabbed.
Paramedics arrived to find an injured 16-year-old boy in the south-west corner of the school grounds.
“My son sent me a message saying somebody got stabbed. It’s very scary.”
NSW Ambulance Inspector Norm Rees said it appeared the teenager got into “an altercation”.
“I believe [there was] a fist thrown and as a result of that our patient was stabbed in the left lower abdomen, with what appears to be like a kitchen paring knife,” Inspector Rees said at the scene.
“It appears that the blade may have broken off into his abdo, so we’ve opted to stabilise the patient at the scene and fly him up to St George [Hospital] for specialised care.”
The teenager was wheeled to a waiting NSW Ambulance rescue helicopter, which landed on an oval at the rear of the school.
An X-ray is expected to determine whether part of the knife’s blade is inside the boy’s body.
Inspector Rees said the boy was conscious when paramedics arrived.
The student’s condition was now stable, although his injuries could have been life-threatening, he said.
“A knife wound to the abdo, there’s a number of organs underneath and we’ve got to be mindful of that; we’re very careful on how we move him and treat him,” he said.
Paramedics were assisted by other students, he said.
“The youths from Keira certainly helped us and [in] looking after the patient until we all arrived on scene,” Inspector Rees said.
Police have confirmed the teenager was allegedly stabbed by another student following an altercation, before the student fled.
No other injuries have been reported.
A crime scene has been established at the school and investigations are ongoing.
An alarm, alerting students that the school was in lockdown, could be heard ringing out across the school grounds.
Parents lined the street outside the school, anxiously waiting for information.
Many of them, like Gordana Petreski, were alerted to the stabbing by their children.
Ms Petreski’s 15-year son and daughter, 14, are students at the school.
“My son sent me a message saying somebody got stabbed,” she said, adding he told her they were inside a classroom and everyone was upset.
Ms Petreski was shocked that a stabbing had happened in a school, but shared her relief that neither of her children were harmed.
“It’s very scary,” she said.
Another parent, who only wanted to be identified as Lisa, said her son, who is in year 9, messaged her about lunch time.
“He saw the blood and he’s a bit shaken up and so are his friends,” Lisa said.
“I was just worried for him because he is friends with all the groups in the school and it’s all gated off, so you’d think they’re protected.
“You think it only happens in, well it’s getting close by happening in Sydney, but not down here.”
Statement by Keira MP Ryan Park
On behalf of the Illawarra community and particularly members of the Keira electorate I would like to extend our thoughts and prayers to the student and his family who were involved in the incident that took place today at Keira High School.
Our support is with the Principal, Mr David Robson, staff, students and parents as they deal with this terrible but isolated incident.
I am a frequent visitor to Keira High School and it is an outstanding educational institution within the Illawarra region and this incident should in no way reflect on the fine reputation that Mr Robson and his entire school community have worked hard to enhance over many years.
I have spoken with the Director of Schools and she has ensured me that all necessary support and assistance are being provided to the school community.
