Family of Blackburn High assistant principal sues State of Victoria over his death

The family of a Blackburn High assistant principal who died from a heart attack is suing the State of Victoria, claiming he suffered trauma watching his student die on a school trip.

The family of a traumatised assistant principal, who watched his student die on an overseas school trip, is suing the State of Victoria after he suffered a fatal heart attack.

Blackburn High assistant principal Geoff Vezey, 52, went into cardiac arrest and died two years after his pupil, Timothy Fehring, also suffered cardiac failure during a school tour to Europe in 2019.

The death of the year 9 student forced the Department of Education to increase the number of teachers who chaperone international travel after the coroner found the two staff members — Mr Vezey and the school’s business manager — were stretched.

Mr Vezey, a “much-loved and respected” educator, was the teacher-in-charge of 17 students on the culture tour and took Tim to a doctor’s office in Vienna for a certificate to fly home, on June 28, 2019.

Geoffrey Vezey was assistant principal of Blackburn High. Picture: Supplied

His student, Timothy Fehring, died on a school trip. Picture: Jason Edwards

Earlier diagnosed at a hospital with gastro, constipation and homesickness, the 15-year-old said he felt “hot and stuffy” and stepped outside as the bill was paid.

Moments later, Mr Vezey found the boy with vomit on his clothing and blood coming out of his nose.

Unable to rouse Tim, he tried to summon help from the doctor by banging on the door and in a panic, started texting the other staff member on the trip.

Despite CPR, Tim died two hours later from a “highly acute” infection in his stomach and lungs — gastroenteritis and bronchopneumonia — which probably led to heart failure.

Less than 22 months later, Mr Vezey died from a heart attack at his Ringwood East home on April 19, 2021.

His wife Johanna Walker and the two youngest of their three children are suing the education department, claiming their loving husband and father suffered an “acute psychiatric injury” as a result of being there when Tim was sick and died.

According to court documents filed in the County Court, Mr Vezey suffered post traumatic stress disorder, adjustment disorder with anxiety and depression and had panic attacks.

The assistant principal was left traumatised and experienced “rumination about the death”, a court writ states.

Timothy Dale Fehring with his sister Emma before he took off on the school trip to Germany.

“(His) employment related psychiatric injury was a significant contributing factor to his cardiac death,” papers read.

Documents show that the Vezey family sought compensation from State of Victoria, but this was rejected in January this year.

They are now launching a bid for a judge-alone trial in the County Court as they seek compensation, costs for burial or cremation, interest, and other relief that the court deems fit.

In a tribute on the Blackburn High School website, principal Joanna Alexander said Mr Vezey was “an outstanding educator, colleague and friend who will be sorely missed”.

Earlier this week Tim’s close-knit family, from Ringwood North, remembered him as an energetic, sport-loving, bubbly boy who always wore a bright smile.

Redlich Work Injury Lawyers’ Catherine Sim, for the Vezey family, said they were unable to comment with the matter before court.

The Department of Education declined to comment as the matter was before court.