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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Kyle Rees death: Portchester school 'mass brawl' probed | Kyle Rees death: Portchester school 'mass brawl' probed |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Reports that the death of a 16-year-old Dorset schoolboy happened after a playground "mass brawl" are being investigated by police. | Reports that the death of a 16-year-old Dorset schoolboy happened after a playground "mass brawl" are being investigated by police. |
| Kyle Rees died after apparently being hit with a cricket ball at Portchester School, Bournemouth, on Monday. | Kyle Rees died after apparently being hit with a cricket ball at Portchester School, Bournemouth, on Monday. |
| A 16-year-old boy arrested on suspicion of manslaughter has been released on bail while enquiries continue. | A 16-year-old boy arrested on suspicion of manslaughter has been released on bail while enquiries continue. |
| A pupil from the school told BBC Radio Solent that the fight, involving "30-40 kids", broke out at around 14:00 GMT. | A pupil from the school told BBC Radio Solent that the fight, involving "30-40 kids", broke out at around 14:00 GMT. |
| The pupil said two groups threw footballs, tennis balls, cricket balls, shoes and chairs at each other. | The pupil said two groups threw footballs, tennis balls, cricket balls, shoes and chairs at each other. |
| He said some youths were also punching each other in the playground. | He said some youths were also punching each other in the playground. |
| 'Ten teachers' | 'Ten teachers' |
| "We don't have any idea why it started in there, it was just random copycat violence and then all turned into something quite serious," he said. | "We don't have any idea why it started in there, it was just random copycat violence and then all turned into something quite serious," he said. |
| "It took about five minutes for anyone to actually realise what was going on, and it took ages for them to actually start breaking things up. | "It took about five minutes for anyone to actually realise what was going on, and it took ages for them to actually start breaking things up. |
| "It took at least 10 teachers before things started to cool down. It was so big. | "It took at least 10 teachers before things started to cool down. It was so big. |
| "We haven't been told a great deal about what happened. | "We haven't been told a great deal about what happened. |
| "[Police] have cordoned off the whole playground area and are looking at CCTV." | "[Police] have cordoned off the whole playground area and are looking at CCTV." |
| Dorset Police said the fight was "one line of inquiry" in the investigation but stressed they had not yet received any other authoritative report of what happened during the fight. | Dorset Police said the fight was "one line of inquiry" in the investigation but stressed they had not yet received any other authoritative report of what happened during the fight. |
| They said the cordon had now been lifted. | |
| Kyle's mother, Tanya Cooper, said the whole family was devastated at their loss. | Kyle's mother, Tanya Cooper, said the whole family was devastated at their loss. |
| She said: "He was the light of our lives, he was our everything. | She said: "He was the light of our lives, he was our everything. |
| "I would like to thank everyone for their kind words that they have written about him." | "I would like to thank everyone for their kind words that they have written about him." |
| Counselling and support | |
| Kyle was taken to Bournemouth Hospital. | Kyle was taken to Bournemouth Hospital. |
| He was then transferred to Southampton General Hospital in a critical condition, where he died on Tuesday. | He was then transferred to Southampton General Hospital in a critical condition, where he died on Tuesday. |
| The school is offering counselling and support to pupils. | |
| Det Ch Insp Kevin Connolly, of Dorset Police, said: "The investigation into the circumstances surrounding the tragic death of 16-year-old Kyle Rees continues. | |
| "Teachers and pupils who were at the scene continue to assist us with a number of lines of enquiry which are subject to investigation." |