Sasha Bartin

A 13-year-old schoolgirl with a weak heart died on the hockey pitch after she was allegedly 'pushed
to the limit' by her PE teacher, her outraged father claims.

Tragic Sasha Bartin was warming up for a hockey match on the school's games pitch when she began to
feel unwell and asked to sit down.

The year nine pupil - who was waiting for an operation to mend a faulty valve in her heart -
complained of chest pains and asked for time to recuperate.

But her teacher allegedly ignored her desperate pleas and Sasha collapsed and died at Westfield
Community School in Yeovil, Somerset, on Monday.

Today her devastated father Glynn claimed Sasha twice complained about feeling unwell, but was
ordered to continue her pre-match warm up until she collapsed.

Sasha was rushed to nearby Yeovil District Hospital, but despite frantic attempts by paramedics the
pretty teenager was pronounced dead on arrival.

Grief-stricken Glynn yesterday launched a scathing attack on the school claiming its negligence led
to the premature death of his youngest daughter.

Waste management worker Glynn, 36, of Yeovil, said: 'I'm absolutely horrified by what's happened.
Sasha had lived with her heart condition since she was born and she knew her own body.

'Yet even though the school knew she had this problem, they still didn't listen to her when she said
she was unwell.

'A number of her classmates have told me that she was distressed and that she asked to stop
playing.

'But I now know that she forced to continue. Pushing her to the limit in this way could well have
killed her and the school should have known this.'

Her devastated mum Katrina, 37, added: 'Obviously I'm devastated. It was just such a shock.'
Glynn Bartin

Devastated dad Glynn accuses Sasha's school - Westfield Community School in Yeovil, Somerset - of
neglected

Sasha's serious medical condition meant she was unable to take part in strenuous exercise of any
kind and was only allowed to take part in PE lessons of moderate exertion.

Housewife Katrina added: 'She seemed fine on Monday morning - well, she had a plaster on her foot
but that was it.

'She was a wonderful girl with lots of friends. I can't believe she's gone.'

Manchester United fan Sasha was born with a narrow heart valve and underwent corrective surgery at
Bristol Royal Infirmary aged just two weeks.

But the operation was not a complete success and Sasha was left needing further surgery to correct
the defective valve.
Sasha Bartin

Sasha Bartin (Bottom) pictured with her friends at school

Doctors feared further treatment while Sasha was still growing could lead to more problems, and were
waiting until she was 18 before they operated again.

She underwent regular check-ups at the Bristol Children's Hospital and with her GP and was even able
to take part in moderate exercise.

Glynn claims teachers at Westfield Community School were fully aware of her condition and had given
her special permission to avoid PE lessons if she felt unwell.

He said: 'To everyone else she looked like she had a normal life but we always knew she was ill.

'Her GP said that when her chest hurt or when she got out of breath she should stop what she was
doing.

'The school knew she had the condition. Sasha's mother went and had a meeting with the school when
she started to make sure they all knew.'

But on Monday morning, only three days into the new school term, Sasha was warming up for hockey
practice when she felt light-headed and told the teacher she needed a break.

Sasha's plea was allegedly ignored and she carried on until the pain in her chest intensified and
she complained again - but was refused a second time.

Glynn said: 'She had been doing this for years and lived a perfectly healthy life.

'I used to watch her play football and she could usually keep going happily until a break at half
time. But something must have been wrong on that day.

'She told the teacher that she didn't feel like doing sport that day and that she didn't feel well.
But her friends say that she was told to keep going.

'I don't know if it was a new teacher or not but she'd only been back at school for three days.'

Glynn is now planning to take his allegations over the school's negligence 'as far as necessary' and
is to meet with the school's headmaster Christopher Hunt.

Westfield Community School Headmaster Christopher Hunt yesterday denied that any staff acted
inappropriately.

Mr Hunt said: 'We are not aware of any grievances that have been made about our school in relation
to this matter.

'No members of the community have been in touch with me to suggest that we did anything wrong. I am
confident that all members of staff acted in a very professional manner.'

A post-mortem examination on Sasha will be carried out in the next few days at London's Great Ormond
Street Hospital.

Glynn added: 'She brightened up everyone's day up and was smiling all the time. I have never seen
her unhappy, if I was upset she would cheer me up by making me laugh.

'I could not have asked to have a better daughter - she was like my best friend.

'She was a smiling angel who brightened up the lives of everyone she came into contact with. I will
miss her so much.'

Siblings Naomi, 16, and Lewis, 11, added: 'Sasha, I miss you so much already, you will always been
my baby sister and there is not one day I will not remember you, your smile, your bright eyes.

'I love you so much. I have been thinking of a reason why you have gone and I have to figure it's
because they need someone up there to show those angels how to do it.'

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1055244/Schoolgirl-dies-pushed-limit-PE-teacher.html