What to Know
- The family of a 9-year-old NYC boy is demanding answers after they say he was seriously hurt during gym class at his Brooklyn school
- Roger Gao, a third-grader in Williamsburg, needed emergency brain surgery and ended up with an extended hospital stay, an official says
- The Department of Education said in a statement it will investigate any allegation of misconduct and continue to support the family
The family of a third-grade student at a Brooklyn public school is calling for a full investigation by education officials after they say the 9-year-old boy suffered an injury in gym class that required emergency brain surgery.
Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams joined the family of Roger Gao, a student at PS 250 George H. Lindsey in Williamsburg, at a press conference Sunday.
Adams says Gao was apparently hurt in gym class on Monday, Jan. 7; the boy needed brain surgery and had an "extended" hospital stay, his office said.
It wasn't immediately clear how the boy may have gotten hurt. Adams' office released a graphic image of the boy's head post-surgery that shows a number of stitches covering virtually the entire right side of his skull as he sits on a hospital bed in pajamas.
The Department of Education said in a statement it would look into any allegations.
"Safety always comes first, and EMS swiftly responded to the school," a spokeswoman said. "We will investigate any allegation of misconduct, and ensure we continue providing support to the family.”