A 17‑year‑old student died on a Tuesday in Lille, France, after suffering a heart attack during a nationwide examination known as the Selectivity. The incident sparked intense debate about whether immediate medical care was provided quickly enough during the exam and raised questions about the safety measures in place for high‑stakes testing.
The teenager was undertaking an economics exam when he began to feel unwell and eventually lost consciousness. Reports compiled from local coverage indicated that eight adults supervised the examination, yet the response to the emergency was delayed and did not meet the expectations of those nearby.
Friends of the deceased say they tried to assist the student and repeatedly asked for the emergency services to be called. They claim that the supervising teachers ordered them to return to their seats and did not allow CPR to be administered at the scene.
Only a few minutes later did the person in charge at the center call for emergency support, but the student passed away several hours later in a Lille hospital.
The incident has sparked widespread concern in France, especially among students who were taking the nationwide Selectivity exams, about how such emergencies are handled during critical testing periods.
Many students reported that they were not allowed to leave the exam room after finishing, and there were claims that a supervisor warned that leaving could jeopardize their chance of entry into university. This added to the distress and raised questions about exam rules and student welfare during high‑pressure assessments.
The affected academy released a statement of condolence for the loss and announced that an investigation would be conducted to clarify what happened during the exam and why medical assistance was not immediately available. The outcome of the inquiry is expected to address procedures, training, and safeguards for students during future exams, and to reassure families, students, and educators about safety and support during high‑stakes assessments.