A young disabled boy left unattended ona school bus for almost five hours in March has died.
Daniel Ramanui (7), who had cerebral palsy, died in his mother's arms on Tuesday and was farewelled at his funeral yesterday.
Fellow pupils from Kawerau South School lined the streets of Kawerau and broke into a haka as the hearse carrying his body drove past.
News in March that Daniel was left unattended ina school bus for almost five hours caused outrage around the country.
Daniel, who had cerebral palsy and hydrocephalus (water on the brain), was wheelchairæbound and could not move or speak.
The bus driver said she had suffered a memory lapse and had forgotten to take Daniel to Kawerau South School, instead parking the bus in her driveway. She returned Daniel to his parents after 2pm that day.
However, it was a further four days before Daniel's parents, Toni and Pita, found out about their son's plight, when the same bus driver had been picking Daniel up for school.
Daniel's tangi was held yesterday at Punawhakareia marae in Rotoiti, where he was later buried at the urupa (cemetery).
- Daily Post
