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| Version 7 | Version 8 |
|---|---|
| Teacher killed on Australia trip | Teacher killed on Australia trip |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| A PE teacher from a public school has been killed in a white water rafting accident on a school trip to Australia. | A PE teacher from a public school has been killed in a white water rafting accident on a school trip to Australia. |
| Ian Robinson, 47, from Liverpool, was leading a group of teenage boys from Merchant Taylors' School in Crosby, Merseyside, on a three-week rugby tour. | Ian Robinson, 47, from Liverpool, was leading a group of teenage boys from Merchant Taylors' School in Crosby, Merseyside, on a three-week rugby tour. |
| He was on a river in Queensland when his raft overturned and his foot became trapped beneath rocks, submerging him under water for several minutes. | He was on a river in Queensland when his raft overturned and his foot became trapped beneath rocks, submerging him under water for several minutes. |
| Despite attempts to save him, he died before an ambulance arrived. | Despite attempts to save him, he died before an ambulance arrived. |
| The accident happened on the Tully River in Cairns at 1230 local time on Tuesday, when Mr Robinson was out on the fast-moving waters as part of a 14-boat flotilla. | The accident happened on the Tully River in Cairns at 1230 local time on Tuesday, when Mr Robinson was out on the fast-moving waters as part of a 14-boat flotilla. |
| Everyone involved at Merchants is very sad and profoundly shocked Headmaster David Cook | Everyone involved at Merchants is very sad and profoundly shocked Headmaster David Cook |
| The trip has now been cut short and the party are returning home early. There were 24 boys aged 15 to 17 on the journey, accompanied by four teachers. | The trip has now been cut short and the party are returning home early. There were 24 boys aged 15 to 17 on the journey, accompanied by four teachers. |
| The school said they had travelled to Australia to play rugby against teams from Brisbane, Sydney and Darwin. | The school said they had travelled to Australia to play rugby against teams from Brisbane, Sydney and Darwin. |
| The white water rafting was one of several events organised for the boys in their spare time. | The white water rafting was one of several events organised for the boys in their spare time. |
| A statement on the school's website said it was "with great sadness" that it announced the death of the popular teacher. | A statement on the school's website said it was "with great sadness" that it announced the death of the popular teacher. |
| Headmaster David Cook said: "Ian Robinson has taught at Merchant Taylors' since 1984 and was very popular with staff and boys alike. | Headmaster David Cook said: "Ian Robinson has taught at Merchant Taylors' since 1984 and was very popular with staff and boys alike. |
| "He was an immensely hard-working and caring professional. Over a generation of boys have benefited from his teaching and care. He will be very much missed and very fondly remembered. | "He was an immensely hard-working and caring professional. Over a generation of boys have benefited from his teaching and care. He will be very much missed and very fondly remembered. |
| "Everyone involved at Merchants is very sad and profoundly shocked. Our heartfelt sympathy is with Mr Robinson's wife and family." | "Everyone involved at Merchants is very sad and profoundly shocked. Our heartfelt sympathy is with Mr Robinson's wife and family." |
| The statement said: "No other participants were injured but students on the trip and those accompanying them are naturally very shocked. | The statement said: "No other participants were injured but students on the trip and those accompanying them are naturally very shocked. |
| "They are being counselled by professionals and will be flown back to the UK earlier than originally planned." | "They are being counselled by professionals and will be flown back to the UK earlier than originally planned." |
| 'Fantastic teacher' | |
| Mr Robinson was head of rugby at the fee-paying boys' school, which teaches boys aged from eight to 18. | |
| Tributes have appeared on the website Facebook, with one former pupil describing Mr Robinson as a "fantastic teacher and friend to all of us". | Tributes have appeared on the website Facebook, with one former pupil describing Mr Robinson as a "fantastic teacher and friend to all of us". |
| Charles Woodward, owner of the rafting company at Tully River, told a local news website that their standards were the highest in the world. | |
| He added that the death was devastating for all concerned and extended his sympathy to the man's family and friends. | |
| Mr Robinson's widow, his second wife, Elizabeth, was said by relatives to be too upset to pay tribute. | |
| Southport MP John Pugh taught at the school with Mr Robinson for several years before joining the House of Commons. | |
| "He was genuinely somebody who had not an enemy in the world and was regarded very positively by all who knew him," he said. | |
| "He was a very good teacher and very affable. He was very well liked." |