Tragic Hassan was ‘kind, sound and obliging’
A FAMILY, school and local community in Galway City are in mourning following the sudden death of 15-year-old Hassan Taiwo during a soccer match on Sunday.
Hassan, from Sceilig Ard, Ballinfoile, on the Headford Road, took ill at the match just before 2pm on Sunday after scoring a goal for his side Merlin Woods in their match against Salthill Devon – he was rushed by ambulance to University Hospital Galway where he was later pronounced dead.
A post mortem examination was carried out on the teenager at UHG yesterday that was expected to confirm ‘natural causes’ for the sudden death – he hadn’t suffered any injury during the course of the match, which was close to completion when the incident happened.
Hassan Taiwo was a Junior Cert Student at St Joseph’s College (The ‘Bish) and was according to students and staff, ‘the life and soul’ of the school.
Principal at The ‘Bish, Ciaran Doyle told the Sentinel that staff and students at the school were absolutely shocked and devastated at the loss of Hassan Taiwo.
“He really was a great lad. He was involved in everything and loved to help out in coaching the first years in soccer. Hassan was involved in the school talent show and he was also a member of the athletics relay team,” said Mr Doyle.
He said that yesterday, the school had concentrated on providing comfort and help to students at the school – and especially to his classmates in Junior Cert year – who were shocked at the news.
A religious service was held at the school yesterday in memory of Hassan while classmates of the dead boy have paid numerous tributes to him on social media, describing him as a very kind, ‘sound’ and obliging student.
Read more in this week’s Connacht Sentinel