Tragic Discovery at Prestigious Boarding School
An 18-year-old pupil has been named as the teenager who tragically died at Kent College Canterbury, a co-educational boarding school, just weeks after he started his studies there. Songcheng Fang, who was known as Franklin to his friends, was discovered unresponsive in a communal bathroom at his boarding house on Monday night.
Timeline of a Tragedy
The inquest into his death heard that Songcheng was last seen alive at 8.15pm during evening registration. A fellow pupil, who shared a bedroom with him, informed police that he heard Songcheng enter a bathroom used by three dormitories at around 10pm.
Concerns were raised approximately an hour later when the water was heard still running inside the locked bathroom. Staff members turned off the water supply but, after receiving no response from within, the boarding master was forced to open the door.
Inside, they found the teenager unresponsive. Despite immediate attempts to save his life, these were unfortunately unsuccessful. Police were called to a medical incident on Whitstable Road, Canterbury, at just before 11pm on Monday.
School Community in Mourning
A police spokesperson confirmed that officers attended alongside paramedics and that the death of the 18-year-old man is being treated as non-suspicious. A report is being prepared for the coroner.
The provisional medical cause of death was given as hanging. The inquest will hold further hearings to consider Songcheng's intent and the full circumstances leading to his death.
In response to the tragedy, the senior school was closed on Tuesday. In an email to parents, Headmaster Mark Turnbull said that Franklin had already 'won considerable praise from his teachers for the manner in which he approached the opportunities at the school'.
The closure was to allow pupils and staff time to come to terms with the devastating loss. A statement from the private school expressed that they are 'deeply saddened' and that their 'thoughts and prayers are with their family, friends and our wider school community.'
Kent College, which was founded in 1885, has over 500 pupils and fees for boarding cost up to £17,798 per term.
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