Eyewitnesses reported that the young boy appeared to have a violent seizure at the same school attended by the renowned musician, Lewis Capaldi. Despite being rushed to the hospital, Hamdan Aslam succumbed to his injuries shortly thereafter.
In response to circulating rumors suggesting the incident was related to a popular TikTok game, Hamdan’s family took to social media to debunk these claims. Zain Mohammed, a relative, expressed his devastation on Facebook, stating, “A boy who had been bullying him put him in a chokehold and refused to let go. Unfortunately, he passed away this afternoon. I am absolutely devastated. The worst part is that it’s being portrayed as a game called ‘tap out,’ but that’s not the truth. Hamdan was targeted and bullied for being different… Nobody intervened; they simply watched as the poor boy lost his life.”
Hamdan, hailing from Harthill, West Lothian, was described as a “lovely little boy” by friends of the family, and numerous tributes have flooded social media platforms in his honor. Police Scotland has initiated an investigation into the circumstances surrounding his untimely demise.
Expressing her sorrow on Facebook, Hamdan’s cousin, Sana Khaliq, wrote, “With a heavy heart, our cousin Hamdan from Harthill passed away today. He lost his life during break time at St Kentigern’s Academy. The poor boy endured a horrific death while many stood by and watched. Apparently, this happened during a game… However, we believe it stemmed from an incident that occurred with him the day before, involving a fight… which evidently continued the next day and tragically resulted in loss of life. May Allah SWT grant him the highest place in heaven and reveal the truth… Amen. Please keep the family in your prayers during this difficult time.”
A police source disclosed, “We have been informed that the child was targeted the day prior to his death and was involved in an altercation that carried over to the next day. Reports suggest he was held in a chokehold by another student. It is understood that he experienced a seizure following this incident.”
A close family friend shared, “Hamdan was truly a delightful young boy. His family previously owned a local takeaway shop and are well-respected in the community. We are all devastated for them.”
A spokesperson for Police Scotland stated, “On Tuesday, June 6, 2023, at approximately 1:20 PM, officers responded to a report of concern for a 14-year-old boy at a school in the Bathgate area. He was transported to the hospital by ambulance but tragically passed away shortly thereafter. The family has been notified, and investigations are underway to establish the complete circumstances surrounding the death.”
In light of the incident, the school administration released a statement on their website, emphasizing that they are providing “emotional support” to students and characterizing the event as an “isolated incident.”
Headteacher Andrew Sharkey expressed his condolences on the school’s website, stating, “Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of the victim, and we offer our deepest condolences and support. We have arranged ongoing emotional support and guidance for students and staff affected by this tragic news. During this extremely painful time, we would like to respect the family’s privacy. We are cooperating with the relevant authorities in their investigation to establish the facts and will refrain from making further comments at this moment.”
Update:
The grieving family of Hamdan has revealed that their beloved son had an undetected pre-existing heart condition, which ultimately led to his untimely death. They emphasized that his passing was entirely natural and unforeseeable, asserting that no individual can be held accountable for this heartbreaking loss.
In a statement conveyed through their lawyer, Aamer Anwar, the family sought to reassure Hamdan’s friends and the wider community, stating, “We want to assure Hamdan’s friends and our community that his passing was a result of an entirely natural occurrence and could not have been anticipated. No one can be attributed blame for this profound loss, as it was God’s will.”
The family’s statement aims to bring solace to those who knew and cared for Hamdan, shedding light on the underlying medical condition that tragically claimed his young life. Their hope is to alleviate any concerns or questions surrounding the circumstances of his passing, emphasizing that it was an unfortunate event beyond anyone’s control.
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During this difficult time, the family requests privacy and understanding as they grieve the loss of their cherished son.
