Student ‘gravely’ hurt after explosion at Ottawa high school

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OTTAWA (NEWS1130) – An 18-year-old student is seriously hurt after an explosion in an Ottawa high school shop class, while another teenager was taken to hospital. Four others, including a teacher, were also treated for minor injuries.

Paramedics say 18-year-old had no vital signs when emergency workers arrived, but regained a pulse by the time he reached hospital. A drum of peppermint oil apparently exploded in the class, but it’s not yet known what the oil was being used for. 

Chris Ventura, 14, reported hearing a loud boom that shook the desks in the class. He says students were rushed outside and sent down the street to another high school nearby.

Ottawa Fire Services says there was no fire and no obvious structural damage to the school. Police, paramedics and the fire department are all on the scene. The local school board says students have been evacuated.

The high school is in the Ottawa suburb of Barrhaven. The school has 1,480 students and 130 staff.

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