Is the establishment responsible for the death of a child, who died of lightning meningitis in 1980? – release

Was Nicolas (1) Was a collateral victim of the climate of fear that reigned in Betharram? For Nathalie (1), her sister, doubt has been installed since Testimonies of physical and sexual assaults Former students pile up. On June 12, 1980, his little brother died at the age of 12 of lightning meningitis after spending a whole night of fever in one of the dormiticals of the Catholic establishment located near Pau (Pyrénées-Atlantiques). By investigating her death, Nathalie recently discovered shortcomings that were able to delay the child’s medical care, as she reveals this Thursday, April 24, at the World. The facts are now prescribed, but it still plans to file a complaint for non-assistance to a person in danger, so that the history of Nicolas « or added to this set of horrors ”.

Jean-Rémy Arruyer, former student of the 16-year-old college, delivers his version of the Drama night on a daily basis. At the time, he was a student-surveillance of a dormitory of CM2 and 6th children. That evening, a comrade alerts him that a « Little is not doing well at all ». It is Nicolas that the two teenagers then discover in his bed, pale, the purplish lips and in full access of fever. When they talk to him, the child does not answer. Jean-Rémy Arruyer and his friend then set out in search of an adult in the corridors to prevent a doctor. Problem: they can’t find anyone. The space of a few moments, the duo is thinking of preventing a supervisor. But very quickly, they give it up. In Betharram, The climate of fear is such that they fear reprisals.

It was only the next day around 7 am that the little boy was sent to the infirmary. The nurse would then have first thought of a case of flu. When the doctor arrives – at the end of the day – the student still unconscious is finally sent to the hospital. He died around 10 p.m.

In this case, Bétharram officials sweep up all responsibility. With the family, they tell at the time that Nicolas woke up with headache and in a flu. Nothing really alarming. The child’s father is a former house, of which he has good memories. With confidence with the congregation, loved ones therefore do not ask more questions.

The evening of the drama Jean-Rémy Arruyer, who was also the victim of sexual assault in the establishment, announces for his part to his mother never wanted to return to the college again. According to Worldhe will eventually hide this traumatic episode, which will still tighten him unconsciously for years. He will not succeed in « Reconstitute the puzzle » that 45 years later.

(1) Some first names have been modified.