Binge drinking death of 15 year old in SA

Aug 4 2008

A town in South Australia has been devastated over the death of a teenager from what appears to be a drinking binge.

Peterborough High School student, 15 year old Daryl Horner died at Peterborough Hospital after a party on Saturday night where he had reportedly consumed a considerable amount of home-made alcohol.

A spokeswoman for the high school says the entire school is saddened by the death of the student and the mayor of Peterborough, Ruth Whittle, says town residents are devastated.

According to district director, Marie O'Toole, education authorities in the area have been running a programme about the dangers of drugs and alcohol for year eight to ten students and she says the school had developed a good health and well-being programme.

The school had also been involved in programmes run by the health services in the district which focused on safe partying and issues that are currently relevant.

Mayor Whittle, says the loss of a 15-year-old boy has a dreadful affect on a community and has saddened the whole community.

Ms Whittle says this is not the first alcohol-related death of a young person from the area but she hopes it will serve as a warning to other people on the dangers of excessive drinking.

Experts say binge drinking kills two teenagers a week.

Police expect a post-mortem will be carried out to establish the exact cause of death.