13-year-old RAK student suffers heart attack, inhaler fails

Ras Al Khaimah - "The student had a severe asthma attack when he went to the nearby grocery"

A 13-year-old student had a heart attack, caused by an intensive asthma attack on Wednesday, at the end of a science test in his school. He is now in critical condition.
The Grade 9 student of Barirat School in Ras Al Khaimah emirate tried to use his asthma rescue inhaler, which failed to work, and the ensuing asthma attack triggered his heart attack, sources at the school said.
Mohammed Juma, Principal of Barirat School, said that the student - a Gulf national - had seemed fine after he finished his Science test. "The student had a severe asthma attack when he went to the nearby grocery with his classmates after the Science examination. He tried to use his asthma inhaler, but it did not work, and he could not breathe."
The boy then lost consciousness, and his friends informed the school administration which alerted the national ambulance that arrived in record time, the Principal said. "The paramedics tried hard to rescue the sick student and resuscitate him on the spot, but they couldn't, and the student was taken to Obaidullah Hospital for medical care."
Dr Abdullah Al Nuaimi, Director of the RAK Medical Zone, said the student was admitted to the emergency section in a critical condition. "He was suffering from a heart attack and respiratory problems, and his face had turned blue from the suffocation and respiratory failure he sustained."
The student was given medication to raise his blood pressure and resuscitate his heart, and put on an artificial ventilator which managed to get his heart beating again, but his pulse remained weak. Twenty minutes later, he suffered a stroke, following which he was resuscitated again. A medical team has been formed to closely follow up on the student's case. He remains in critical condition.
ahmedshaaban@khaleejtimes.com

• UAE
• Ras Al Khaimah