A young pupil's ordinary school day turned into a nightmare when a section of a ceiling suddenly gave way, leading to two children being hospitalised.
The Terrifying Incident
On Monday, November 10, emergency services, including police, firefighters, and an ambulance, were dispatched to George Washington Elementary School in Hanford, California, within minutes of the collapse.
Eight-year-old James Harrah had been waiting to be picked up from school when a portion of the stucco ceiling from the school's outdoor amphitheater collapsed directly onto him.
James recounted the horror, stating, "All I remember is when I was going out from school, the roof fell on me." His mother, Diana Harrah, provided more chilling detail, explaining that one piece likely hit his head, knocking him over, before another piece landed on him.
Immediate Aftermath and Injuries
James sustained a concussion and significant bruising in the incident. His injuries were serious enough that his arm was placed in a sling during his recovery.
A second child was also injured in the sudden collapse and was transported to a local hospital alongside James. Fortunately, in a huge relief to both families, both children were released from hospital on the same day.
The boy's parents described their sheer terror upon hearing the news. "My heart just dropped, and I was so scared. I raced quite a bit, quite fast to get here," his mother Diana recalled. His father, Shawn, rushed to the scene to be with his son, stating, "I was able to get there, check on him, talk to him and let him know I was there."
School's Response and Ongoing Recovery
In response to the serious health and safety failure, the Hanford Elementary School District has taken decisive action. Officials announced that in-person classes at George Washington Elementary are suspended until at least December 1.
During this period, students will engage in remote learning via the district's emergency learning plan. A spokesperson for the district said, "We are grateful to the quick actions of Washington staff and local emergency services" and confirmed they "look forward to welcoming our students back on campus at the start of December."
As he continues his recovery at home, James is looking forward to one thing: seeing his friends again. With remarkable resilience for someone so young, he remarked, "I think they might be impressed because a roof fell on me."
