A final-year Higher National Diploma (HND) student in the Department of Journalism and Media Studies of Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic (AkwaPoly) identified as John has reportedly slump and die instantly during a routine weekly karate training session.
Grassroots Parrot reports that John had been in good health and high spirits as recently as Thursday when he sat for his final examination.
According to reports, the tragic incident occurred on Saturday morning after he left his campus lodge to attend karate practice, a routine he was known to attend.
A close friend, who spoke on condition of anonymity, recounted the moment tragedy struck: “Immediately he entered the pitch, he fainted and was rushed to a private hospital in Ikot Ekpene, but they referred us to the General Hospital.”
Confirming the incident, the President of the Journalism and Media Studies Students Association (JAMSSA), Mr. Nsoefen Mark Akpan, said a doctor at the General Hospital pronounced John dead on arrival.
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Despite the confirmation, some students remained in disbelief. “We couldn’t accept it,” Akpan said. “We took him to a church for prayers, hoping for a miracle, but he was not revived. Another spiritualist who offered to help also failed, claiming John had already crossed into the spirit world.”
After unsuccessful efforts to resuscitate him, the body was taken to a mortuary while efforts were made to contact the deceased’s family.
The Head of Department, Dr. Inemesit Umoren, later arrived at the hospital to address the grieving students before they dispersed.
“This is a young man who wrote exams just two days before,” Akpan lamented. “He showed no signs of illness. He was even the leader of the karate training. It’s still hard to believe he’s gone.”
The cause of John’s sudden death remains unclear, and it is uncertain whether an autopsy will be conducted.