A 17-year-old student from the „Grigore Moisil” Theoretical High School in Timișoara, considered one of the elite high schools in the city, died at the „Louis Țurcanu” Children’s Hospital after allegedly ingesting a suspicious substance. The police have opened an investigation to determine the exact cause of death.
According to the Timiș County Police, doctors informed the authorities on Monday that the girl, who was admitted on Sunday, died in the hospital. „The police urgently went to the scene, where they confirmed the reports, and the lifeless body was transported to the Institute of Legal Medicine for an autopsy,” Timiș County Police representatives stated.
Dr. Iulia Bagiu, the spokesperson for the "Louis Țurcanu" Children's Hospital, told Agerpres that the girl arrived at the emergency room in an extremely grave condition.
"On November 9, at 7:30 p.m., the 17-year-old girl came to us. She was completely unconscious, with seizures and severe bradycardia. The family says that she had ingested some red fruits from an ornamental plant. We do not know which plant specifically. The evolution was very serious – she had the first cardio-respiratory arrest at 8:20 p.m. Unfortunately, despite the efforts of the multidisciplinary team, death was declared at 2:55 a.m. on November 10," the doctor specified.
Timiș Police representatives confirmed that, according to the mother, "the girl had ingested something," but the exact cause of death will only be determined after the autopsy.
The girl's mother told investigators and doctors that her daughter had been suffering from depression since the pandemic period, and investigators do not rule out the hypothesis of suicide.
The Timiș County School Inspectorate expressed regret over the tragedy and conveyed condolences to the family, classmates, and teachers of the student.
"From discussions with representatives of the Children's Hospital in Timișoara, it emerged that it was a suicide, without further details being communicated at this time. The Timiș County School Inspectorate stands by the grieving family and the school community," the official statement reads.
The Timiș County School Inspector, Aura Danielescu, made an emotional appeal to teachers and parents, emphasizing the need to pay attention to the signs of adolescents' suffering. "Today's children live intensely, feel differently, react differently. Emotional disturbances, social pressure, loneliness – all mix in a fragile inner universe that we often do not understand enough. Above textbooks and plans, we have a duty to see them. To keep them alive, to be close to them," she conveyed, as quoted by Agerpres.
The young woman's body was transported to the Timișoara Institute of Legal Medicine, where the exact cause of death will be determined. The police are conducting investigations to unequivocally establish whether it was an accidental poisoning or an intentional act.