A Florida teacher had to be admitted to hospital with 'severe injuries' after she was allegedly attacked by a five-year-old student.
Trisha Meadows, a teacher at Florida's Pine Lakes Elementary School, was reportedly found by police in a 'faint state' after the attack.
The incident is said to have occurred when Meadows sent the five-year-old, who has special needs, to a 'cool-down room' after they and another student were throwing objects around the classroom.
Meadows called for help using the school radio, with an officer then attending the scene.
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According to the police report, the teacher was found to be 'faint' and was 'clearly weak and dazed', and then began coughing and dry-heaving.
Meadows was said to have 'continued to blink and breathe regularly but at no point was able to vocally respond or show signs of a response'.
According to Ana Fusco, president of Broward Teachers Union, the child 'actually ran and attacked and jumped on her with his whole body weight. She fell and hit her head, which caused the severe injury and other bodily injuries where she is going to need surgery'.
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The injuries were reportedly so severe that the teacher was intubated on arrival at Memorial Regional Hospital, as per Complex.
In a message to students and staff, school principal Susan Sasse said of the incident, 'As always, the health, safety and well being of our students and staff continues to be my highest priority.'
She also confirmed that the school campus was secure during the attack, as per NBC Miami.
Fusco noted that this was the third time the teacher had been hospitalised by the student.
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The five-year-old was said to have once thrown a bookcase onto Meadows, crushing her underneath.
Fusco declared, 'The district has failed. They need to get in there and when the teachers are saying, ‘I’ve got this happening', whether it’s one time. It should never get past one time when it’s that severe of rage and violence.'
'She is a sweet teacher. I mean, like, I trust this woman with my child. That’s a second mom. It’s really sad. It’s sad. It’s heartbreaking,' Fusco said.
While the Pembroke Pines Police Department is investigating the incident, the student will not face criminal charges.
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It is reportedly unlikely that Meadows will return to teach at Pine Lakes Elementary School.
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Shola Lee