Community leaders have implored for people to responsibly dispose of needles after a Busselton student was pricked during a beach clean-up event.
Busselton Senior High School principal Dainon Couzic confirmed the distressing October 16 incident.
“It is extremely disappointing that some people in the community don’t have any consideration for the safety of children and other beach-goers and would carelessly leave such an item on our local beach,” he said.
Mr Couzic said the beach clean-up was a regular event, which was an educational and community-focused activity, where students gave back to their local community.
All students were required to wear gloves for the clean-up and before it began teachers had talked to students about potential hazards such as needles and glass and the appropriate and safe way to deal with them during the activity.
Mr Couzic said it was believed the student’s skin was pricked and the student was taken back to school immediately to see the school nurse, their parent was informed, and the student was then sent for further medical advice.
“We will provide the student and their family with any support they require,” he said.
City of Busselton mayor Grant Henley also pleaded with community members to do the right thing.
“The city was saddened to hear that a student has been injured during a recent school excursion and disappointed in those responsible,” he said.
“Unfortunately this incident could happen anywhere and it is a timely reminder for people to please do the right thing and dispose of their needles safely and appropriately.”
The student will now have to be tested every three months for a year for potential diseases.
