30 May 2012

Ruling on King's College student's death

3:25 pm on 30 May 2012

A Coroner has ruled that the death of a King's College student who leapt from a motorway overbridge in Auckland after a school ball last year was probably the result of impulsive actions.

David Gaynor, 17, died in Auckland Hospital. His death was one of a number at the school in a short period.

The Chief Coroner's ruling says the student drank alcohol at pre-school ball events, and took pills and cannabis.

Judge Neil MacLean says while the student was affected by the substances, he is satisfied he knew what he was doing and it was suicide.

King's College says it has overhauled its drug and alcohol education programmes and expanded its counselling capacity since the deaths.

Headmaster Bradley Fenner says better practises are in place to hopefully stop such a tragedy happening again.

This year's school ball has been cancelled and future balls are under review.