SINGAPORE - A 16-year-old student died on Tuesday (Aug 1) morning after a 2.4km run at his school.

Benjamin Sim Wen Ming, a Secondary 4 student at Chong Boon Secondary School in Ang Mo Kio, had just completed the run during his physical education lesson when he collapsed, his father, pastor Davy Sim, 55, told The Straits Times.

A police spokesman said he was taken to Tan Tock Seng Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 11.44am.

Said Mr Sim of his second child: "We are still in a state of shock, but we have accepted it. We will leave it to the school to investigate what happened. I believe they have done their best."

The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said: "Cardiopulmonary resuscitation was administered en route to the hospital."

The Straits Times understands that Benjamin, who had been a volleyball player on the school team for four years, had keeled over and hit his head on the ground outside the school foyer after completing a 2.4km run around the school.

The person who reported the incident to SCDF was already administering emergency resuscitation when the SCDF arrived at the scene.

"Benjamin was a friendly and hard-working student," said a Sec 4 student at Chong Boon Secondary who declined to be named. He said that it was common for students to do the 2.4km run about once a week during PE lessons, and that the school had cancelled some PE classes after the incident.

Chong Boon Secondary School principal Yeo Kuerk Heng said: "Benjamin was well regarded and popular among his peers, and was especially known for his cheerful and friendly disposition. He participated actively both in class and in sports. He was also good in English and helped his friends who are weaker in the subject."

Mr Yeo added that school leaders, staff and counsellors are providing emotional support and assistance to Benjamin's family, affected students and staff.

"As the case is under police investigation, we are unable to comment further," he added.

The SCDF was alerted to the incident at 8.15am on Tuesday. It said it dispatched one ambulance and one fire bike to the scene.

Police are investigating the unnatural death.

Additional reporting by Shayna Toh