The tragic story of the 11-year old boy, Bailey O'Neil who is in a coma after being bullied is making headlines in the UK as well as the US.
Click here for an update. Sadly, Bailey O'Neil has died. His family has taken him off life-support.
The London-based Daily Mail carried a headline Friday evening that read, “Boy, 11, in two-week coma after schoolyard fight with 'bullies' caused seizures
“Bailey O'Neil was involved in a fight four weeks ago and suffered seizures days later."
The Daily Mail cites an ABC News report on the case noting that O’Neil was put in a medically induced coma after a fight with classmates. His family says that he was a victim of bullying.
O’Neil was in the sixth grade at Darby Township School in Penn.
How the attack happened. Was Bailey O’Neil bullied?
O’Neil was hit several times by another student, according to news reports. His nose was broken and he fell to the ground.
O’Neil’s parents later brought Bailey to the A. I. DuPont hospital in Wilmington, Del. Bailey was treated and released.
Bailey’s dad, Rob O’Neil told the ABC station WPVI that he took Bailey back to the hospital after he noticed something was not quite right with him.
"He was sleeping. He was moody. He wasn't himself. He was angry a little bit. He wasn't really eating," the father said.
Bailey’s parents said that he was suffering from violent seizures and needed to be taken to the hospital again. Doctors at the A.I. DuPont Hospital said that the seizures became so severe that they needed to put him on a medically induced coma.
Father Rob Bailey told WPVI-TV, "Every day I'm trying to stay strong for him. When you get into that hospital room and you're looking at him, I would trade places in a heartbeat. It's my buddy, you know."
School officials say they are taking the charges of bullying seriously.
"We are very concerned about the medical condition of the student and our thoughts and prayers are with the family and students," Southeast Delco School District Superintendent Stephen Butz told ABC News.
Disciplinary action against the bullies?
School officials are being tight-lipped about any disciplinary action being taken against any student responsible for the bulling.
But ABC News reports that dad Rob Bailey said that the boy who hit his son was suspended for two days following the attack. Police say no criminal charges have been filed.
The thought of a boy being in a coma after being bullied has touched the heartstrings of people both in the US and around the world.
What do you think about how this case is being handled? Do you think that charges should be filed against the boy who bullied Bailey? Leave you comments below.
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