Death of a schoolboy during a physical education class in Gorodets — an incident that occurred on September 8, 2026, at one of the schools in the city of Gorodets, Nizhny Novgorod Region. A male student died during a physical education class; in connection with the child's death, the Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee of Russia for Nizhny Novgorod Region opened a criminal case. The deceased schoolboy was a 14-year-old teenager.[1][2]

Circumstances of the incident

According to preliminary information, at the beginning of the class the students were performing warm-up exercises and light jogging. At that moment, one of the students felt unwell and suddenly lost consciousness.[3] The school nurse immediately began administering first aid, and the deputy principal called an ambulance. Paramedics arrived at the school seven minutes after the call was received and continued resuscitation efforts, but were unable to save the child.[4][3] The official cause of death had not been announced as of the time of the first publications.[3]

Response of the authorities

Mikhail Puchkov, Minister of Education and Science of Nizhny Novgorod Region, expressed his condolences to the family and friends of the deceased.[4] In his assessment, the school staff acted professionally: the nurse provided first aid, the deputy principal called an ambulance in a timely manner, and the doctors did everything possible.[4] Puchkov urged the public to treat the family's grief with the utmost sensitivity, to refrain from drawing premature conclusions about the cause of the tragedy, and to avoid spreading unverified information.[5] The Ministry of Education maintained direct contact with the school administration, the Gorodets municipal authority, and law enforcement agencies.[4][2]

Criminal case

The Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee of Russia for Nizhny Novgorod Region opened a criminal case following the child's death.[2] Investigators ordered a forensic medical examination to establish the exact cause of death and all the circumstances of the incident. The investigation is being conducted by an investigator from the Gorodetsky Interdistrict Investigative Division of the Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee of Russia for Nizhny Novgorod Region.[1][2]

Sources

  1. nn.dk.ru — The deceased schoolboy was a 14-year-old teenager. The investigation into the circumstances of his death is being conducted by an investigator from the Gorodetsky Interdistrict Investigative Division of the Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee of Russia for Nizh
  2. Otkrytyy Nizhniy — Criminal case opened following the death of a schoolboy during a physical education class in Gorodets
  3. Newsroom24 — Schoolboy dies after losing consciousness during a physical education class in Gorodets
  4. Vremya N — Minister Puchkov comments on the death of a boy at a school in Gorodets
  5. mel.fm — A schoolboy in Nizhny Novgorod Region died during a physical education class. The boy felt ill during warm-up