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Teen party ends in tragedy
03/09/2007 22:30 - (SA)
Kim Snyders, Beeld
Pretoria - A Grade 11 pupil from Florida High School died of unknown causes on Friday evening after attending a party at a friend's house.
Lezaan Kriel, 17, from Florida, Roodepoort, was at a friend's birthday party in Constantiakloof when she got sick. She was rushed to Flora Clinic, but died on the way.
Francois Kriel, her father, said doctors confirmed that she did not die of natural causes.
"She didn't drink, because she was allergic to alcohol. One possibility is that her drink might have been doctored (spiked), but the post-mortem will only be done on Monday," said Kriel, the managing director at the company Ma'emsa.
According to Kriel, Lezaan would have gone away with friends for the weekend, but he and his wife Subeth decided she should stay because she would have written a test this week. They gave her permission to attend the party.
The couple received a call at 21:45 informing them she had been taken to hospital.
"Two of her friends put her in a car and rushed her to the clinic. Her heart stopped beating during the 15 to 20 minutes it took to get to the hospital.
"I want to focus attention on teen parties where there is no proper supervision," said Kriel.
Lezaan was one of the school's best pupils and was very popular, said teachers and a pupil.
"She was an absolute jewel. She was on the student's council and recently took part in the trials for the first netball team. She was very active in school," said Kriel.
Marthinus Schutte, the principal, said Lezaan's death was a shock to teachers and pupils alike.
Lezaan will be buried at the NG Kerk Constantia-Kruin at 10:00 on Friday.
- Beeld
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