Judo boy dies after 70 days in a coma

A seven-year-old boy who was repeatedly thrown by his judo coach and an older classmate until he was unconscious, has died after spending 70 days in a coma in a hospital in Taichung City.

Doctors at Fengyuan Hospital removed life support systems in the presence of the boy’s parents yesterday evening, and the boy, named Huang, was declared dead at around 9:00 pm, June 29.

See previous story: 7-year-old brain-dead after being thrown more than 20 times in judo class

A hospital spokesperson said that Huang’s blood pressure and heart rate had long been unstable and had dropped in recent days.

Huang had remained in a coma with a coma index of level three – the lowest possible level on the Glasgow Coma Scale Index – for 70 days with no improvement.

Taichung City Mayor Lu Shiow-yen paid her respects at the Taichung Funeral Parlor this morning, June 30, to express her condolences to the boy’s family.

“Hearing the news of little brother Huang’s death, I hope that little brother Huang can rest in peace in another world, and hope that the justice can bring comfort to his family in the end,” Mayor Lu posted to Facebook after hearing of Huang’s passing away last night.

During a Judo class on April 21, the elementary school first grader and beginner Judo student had complained about being thrown by his 68-year-old Judo coach and called the coach “a big fool.” The coach then repeatedly threw the boy, and continued even after the boy failed to get up, vomited, and became unconscious, according to the investigation which included video footage of the whole incident.

The coach, named Ho, was charged with physical assault causing serious injury and released on bail of NT$100,000 by the Taichung District Prosecutor’s Office on June 4.

As Ho had also ordered an older student to throw Huang, he was also charged for using a minor to commit a crime.

While the original charges carry a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, coach Ho is now expected to face charges of injury causing death, which carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

According to statements by the boy’s father and uncle, Ho has not apologized to the family for his actions. “My brother has been waiting for an apology,” Huang’s uncle said today.

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