Arrow strikes student’s neck inside San Mateo classroom, sparks safety alarm

SAN MATEO, Isabela — A female student was injured after an arrow pierced through a classroom window and struck her in the neck while a student-athlete was reportedly practicing archery within the school premises on August 11.

According to a report by Bombo Radyo Cauayan, the incident occurred at around 4 p.m. at Salinungan National High School after a student-athlete was excused from class and brought a bow and arrow.

School Principal Dr. Eulysses Daquioag said the school had not authorized archery practice inside the school premises. Under an existing agreement, student-athletes were allowed to practice after class hours but were supposed to train outside the school and in a designated area.

However, the student-athlete reportedly brought the archery equipment to the amphitheater, where a temporary target had been placed while awaiting transfer to an open field intended for training.

The target allegedly slipped when the arrow was released, causing the arrow to change direction, pass through a classroom window, and strike the female student in the neck.

The teacher immediately attended to the injured student and sought assistance from the San Mateo rescue team. She was brought to a hospital in Santiago City, where she underwent surgery that same night.

The principal said the student was already in stable condition and had been declared safe by doctors, although she remained in the intensive care unit for two days for close monitoring.

The school also coordinated with the families of both students involved and reportedly provided initial financial assistance for the injured student’s medical expenses.

Daquioag said there was no coach supervising the student-athlete when the incident happened because the activity was not part of the official archery practice and the coach was on leave.

Following the incident, the school administration said it would strengthen safety measures governing the use of sports equipment, particularly equipment capable of causing serious injuries, including bows and arrows, javelins, discus and shot puts.

The incident has also prompted concerns over the importance of proper supervision and designated training areas when handling potentially dangerous sports equipment, particularly inside school premises.

Meanwhile, comments on Bombo Radyo Cauayan’s Facebook post raised questions about the safety and supervision of archery activities within the school, underscoring the need for strict safety protocols to prevent similar incidents.

One commenter questioned why archery training was allegedly being conducted in an area where students and teachers were still present and why no one intervened to stop the activity.

“Madaming students din ang nag train sa amphitheatre that time, madaming teachers din na naka palibot, how come na walang nakaisip ni isa sa mga teacher na around the area na bawalan or patigilin yung mga nag training na archers.”

In a separate comment, a social media user stressed the importance of discipline and close supervision among archery athletes and coaches, citing a personal experience where an arrow allegedly landed near the commenter during training.

“May mga athletes kc Ng archery Ang walang disiplina. Experience ko during cavr/AA training, sinabihan na na ilihis ung target nila sa walang tao pero ibinalik pa rin sa direction Namin. Tumama ung arrow, a meter away lang sa akin mismo. Not only once, but twice. Ung player nanghinayang sa arrow nya. Di man lang nag-alala na may matamaan. Di man lang nag sorry. At dapat bantay sarado din dapat Ng mga coaches nila. Isang maling Tira, baka buhay Ang kapalit. Mabuti sana kung Sila lang din tamaan Ng arrow nila.”

Meanwhile, another social media user said the incident appeared to have been an accident caused by the loss of control of the arrow and urged the public to pray for the student’s continued recovery.

“Maliwanag po ang details... hindi po ntin control ang galaw ng bata nagpakawala ng arrow, nag iba ang direksyon ang arrow at lumusot sa bintana... uncontrol at aksidente, cguro pray na lng tyo na tuloytuloy na ang paggaling ng bata.”

The claims made in the social media comments have not been independently verified, and some details differ from the initial account given by the school.

The incident has renewed calls for stricter supervision and clearer safety protocols whenever archery and other potentially dangerous sports are conducted within school premises.