A MALE student of about ten years old has taken his own life by hanging himself from a tree in a devastating incident that shocked Luana village at Paelonge on Gizo Island in the Western Province.
The deceased was a Grade 3 student at Titiana School.
The distressing event transpired on Monday afternoon, sending shockwaves through the tight-knit community and the entire Gizo Island.
Reports received by Solomon Star claimed that the tragedy stemmed from the young boy’s deep sadness over the way his father treated him.
Sources indicated that the father, in frustration over his son’s failure to attend school that day, resorted to striking him with a hard object.
A family that lives near to where the father beat his child said the father’s action was too harsh on his son.
The deceased allegedly skipped school that day to go surfing with friends at a nearby reef.
Upon learning of his son’s absence from school, the father called him back from the beach.
Luana villagers said this led to heated confrontation between the two and the father physical beat his son.
After being beaten, the grieving son left home and used a 100-test fishing line to hang himself from a Varu tree in a bush near the beach.
Several hours later, the father, having grown increasingly concerned about his son’s whereabouts, initiated a search and discovered the lifeless body of his son hanging from the tree beside the beach with the help of the deceased’s favorite pet dog.
The deceased was promptly transported to the Gizo Hospital.
Gizo Police visited the village around 4pm yesterday.
While the circumstances surrounding the suicide remain under investigation by Gizo Police, there are speculations within the community that the father’s actions may have directly contributed to the tragic outcome.
Unconfirmed reports further claimed such beating and harsh treatment by the father on his son was not new.
Whilst the community is grappling with the shock of the incident, local authorities are working diligently to uncover the details surrounding this heartbreaking event.
By ULUTAH GINA
Solomon Star, Gizo
