Flowers, Fijian flag pay tribute after sudden death at Cromwell College

A person has died following a medical incident that closed a school in Cromwell yesterday.

Flowers and a Fijian flag were laid outside Cromwell College as a tribute to the member of the public who died.

Emergency services, including a rescue helicopter, were called to the school approximately an hour and a half before the school day was set to begin early Wednesday morning.

A source at the scene says first aiders had already started CPR on the victim.

Families from the school were asked to keep students home, before doors opened for a later start at 10am, but some young people had already arrived on school bus services.

In a statement today Cromwell College tumuaki/principal Mason Stretch says a blessing has been held at the site, and an area will remain fenced off for a number of days.

"Our thoughts and sympathies are with the whānau of the person who passed away."

He says his students are aware of the significance of what happened yesterday and are being respectful of the area, as the school works with police and the Fijian community to follow appropriate tikanga/cultural protocols after the incident.

The school's counselling team is offering support to any students who need it.

Police have confirmed the death related to a medical incident that happened in a public place and is not being treated as suspicious.

Main image (Facebook): Emergency services were called to Cromwell College on Barry Avenue yesterday in response to a medical incident involving a member of the public.