Teen dies during school excursion in Georgia
By Tea Mariamidze
Wednesday, May 29
A 16-year-old girl died during a school excursion in Lagodekhi Natural reserve of Georgia, after she fell in Ninoskhevi Waterfall on May 27.
The excursion group, which included 17 children, went to Ninoskhevi Waterfall by hiking trail. Reserve administration said that the rangers warned the group that the specific place was dangerous and offered them an alternative route. However, the organizers of the excursion took the path anyways.
The director of the Nature Reserve says that near the waterfall there’s a small natural “swimming pool”. According to him, the children, including the 16-year-old girl, went into the water.
“Water on this swimming site flows from one shore to the other. As it seems, the girl was caught by this flow, which took her to the whirlpool under a cliff. It was there that the teenager disappeared. We could not save her,” he explained.
The director added that there are rules put up for the visitors of the park nearly at every spot, saying the rangers have no right to prohibit the people from freely moving in the reserve.
The school says that the case is not the result of the adults’ negligence, but an accident. According to them, the teenager accidentally fell into the water. The sports teacher tried to save her, but in vain.
The school director Badri Javakhishvili noted that the children were not accompanied by their parents, but there were two teachers and a doctor.
"I was not there, and I only have the version of what teachers and students told me. According to them, the girl fell into the water while walking with the group,” he said.
According to human rights defenders, Lagodekhi case shows systemic shortcomings regarding the excursions. Namely, they point to the legislative situation, where school trips remain beyond regulations and there is no effective standard for protecting children's safety.
The Ministry of Education says that the investigation has started on the case. After the inquiry, it will be clear who is responsible for the death of the 16-year-old girl.
Ekaterine Khutsishvili, the Head of the General Education Department, told journalists that the Ministry usually sends recommendation document regarding excursions to the schools at the beginning of each academic year.
Khutsishvili says the document is a recommendation but its fulfillment is obligatory.
According to the regulations, during the transportation of children and some public events, it is necessary for a doctor or a nurse to be present. In case of their absence, children must be accompanied by at least one adult who has undergone the primary medical care course. Schools who have no doctor or a nurse, can inform the Ministry of Education, who will provide them with a qualified staff member.
