A young girl diagnosed with autism found herself unintentionally trapped inside a sports shed at her school during a sweltering day. Ruby, aged 8, was left in the shed without air conditioning or proper ventilation, according to her concerned father, Matthew Everingham. The distressing incident unfolded when Matthew and his partner Brooke arrived at Manning Gardens Public School in Taree, Australia, to pick up Ruby, only to realize she was missing from the group of children.
After a frantic search, Ruby was discovered by her father, tearfully being escorted out by a special needs aide. The family was informed that Ruby had been inadvertently locked inside the shed for approximately five minutes. Matthew expressed his belief that Ruby had inadvertently ended up in the shed during an outdoor activity at school, specifically on a themed “pirate day.” He criticized the school’s grouping strategy, mentioning that children with special needs were placed together, causing challenges for teachers and aides.
While Ruby’s father acknowledged her interest in survival shows and the possibility that she may have hidden in the shed, he maintained that she was locked inside against her will. He highlighted the lack of air conditioning or ventilation in the shed on the scorching 31C day, emphasizing the discomfort Ruby must have endured.
Following the incident, Matthew claimed that the school did not contact them directly to report Ruby missing, but instead, the NSW Department of Education intervened. The department facilitated Ruby’s transfer to a different school in the area. In response to the situation, a spokesperson for the NSW Department of Education stated that they had met with the family, issued an apology, and ensured that the student was unharmed and did not require medical attention. The school took corrective measures by reviewing safety protocols, including ensuring that the door of the sports equipment room could be opened from the inside.
The safety and well-being of students remain a top priority for the education department, which is offering counseling services to support the affected family. The Mirror attempted to reach out to Manning Gardens Public School for additional comments.