Police have warned schoolchildren of the dangers of fights, after a 16-year-old boy died following a brawl with another teenager in south-west Sydney yesterday.
Detective Chief Inspector Mark Brett of Macquarie Fields Local Area Command said the boys, aged 14 and 16, “traded punches” during the fight at the corner of Durham and Kent streets, Minto, about 5pm.
The older boy stumbled back and fell to the ground a few hundred metres from Sarah Redfern High School in Monaghan Street, which both boys attended, police said.
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A passerby gave the victim first aid before he was treated by paramedics and taken to Campbelltown Hospital, where he died shortly after, police said.
Chief Inspector Brett said it was too early to tell what the boys were fighting over, but that there were “some issues” and differences between them.
“While they went to the same school, we don’t believe it’s school-related. We believe it’s related to issues outside of school.”
He said it was not yet clear what caused the boy’s death, but that no weapons were used in the fight.
A post-mortem examination will be done tomorrow.
The 14-year-old was interviewed but no charges have been laid. Police say the boys were not related and the brawl was not believed to be part of a series of fights.
Detective Chief Inspector Brett said investigators did not think the boys intended to seriously hurt each other.
“[This] highlight the dangers of being involved in this sort of violent activity,” he said.
“Whilst I don’t think the intention was to cause any serious injury, unfortunately in this case, a young man’s died. It didn’t need to happen. Those boys didn’t need to fight and if they hadn’t, we wouldn’t be having this discussion now.”
A NSW Department of Education spokesman said counselling was being offered to students and staff at the school and the school was helping police with their investigation.
“Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the late student at this tragic time”, the spokesman said.
Detective Chief Inspector Brett appealed for witnesses who have not spoken to police to phone Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
– with Nick Ralston
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