3-Year-Old Boy Jumps to His Death After Watching Online Content About Suicide During COVID-19 Lockdown
Date
3/12/2023 3:46:37 AM
(MENAFN) 13-year-old Zaheid Ali tragically took his own life by jumping from London's Tower Bridge after watching and uploading online content about suicide during the COVID-19 lockdown. His body was found eight days later in the River Thames in East London. The London Inner South Coroner's Court heard that the young boy boarded a bus to school on April 20, 2021, as usual but got off early and jumped from the bridge. A suicide note was found inside his jacket, which included lyrics from a song about a girl who killed herself.
The inquest further revealed that Zaheid had been following on social media a person in the US who killed himself, posted a countdown to his own suicide on YouTube, and posted on Twitter messages about ending his life. He also exchanged WhatsApp messages with friends from school in which he expressed that he "hated life at the moment and kind of want[ed] to give up." The hearing heard that the young boy had been glued to his phone, and his behavior had not seemed unusual. His parents thought that his behavior was typical for a child his age.
Zaheid's father, Mumen Ali, told the court that he was "baffled" by his son's death, as his son's behavior had not seemed unusual. He explained that the boy, who was born prematurely and suffered from internal malabsorption, a digestive disorder, had been spending most of his time in his bedroom, especially over the Easter holiday weekend, just days before he took his life. His parents attributed this to his hormones changing from being a boy to being a man.
Zaheid was a Year 8 student at Ark Globe Academy in London's Elephant and Castle area, who was "academically very able" but "quiet" with a "very small friendship group," according to the school's vice-principal, Una Sookun.
The tragic case highlights the dangers of young people being exposed to inappropriate online content, and the need for parents and authorities to monitor their online activities to ensure their safety. The inquest also highlights the importance of being vigilant about young people's mental health and wellbeing, particularly during the pandemic, when many have been isolated from their peers and support networks.
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