Parents want answers over Ben Lambourn death at Woree State High School

Heartbroken parents grappling with the sudden death of their son, who died soon after a medical episode at school, are desperately seeking answers.

Benjamin Albert James Lambourn died shortly after being rushed to hospital from the playground of the Woree State High School on March 25, 2025. Picture: Supplied

Heartbroken parents grappling with the sudden death of their son, who died soon after a medical episode at a Cairns school, are desperately seeking answers.

It was a normal Tuesday for the Lambourn family on March 25.

There was nothing out of the ordinary at the beginning of the day for parents Eloise and Frank and their two children Ben and Christopher.

The morning routine progressed as usual.

Ms Lambourn dropped 15-year-old Ben at the gate of the Woree State School without incident.

“We dropped him off at school and he was happy and we text during the day and he was fine,” she said.

Frank and Eloise Lambourn's son Ben, 15, died after an incident at Woree State High School on March 25. The coroner reported that Ben Lambourn died as a result of complications from his brain tumour. Frank and Eloise Lambourn have requested additional information from the school, which has been declined. Picture: Brendan Radke

“But I didn’t receive the usual message after lunch.”

Concern quickly escalated to panic when the school rang to say her boy had collapsed.

“I was getting ready to leave and I got another call to say the ambulance was onsite and to get out there,” she said.

Ms Lambourn arrived at the school to a grim scene.

Paramedics were desperately trying to revive her son who was bleeding profusely. After five minutes Ben was loaded into an ambulance. Mum followed close behind in her private vehicle.

But at 2.30pm Benjamin Albert James Lambourn was pronounced dead at the Cairns Hospital.

Ben Lambourn was diagnosed with a brain tumour when he was two-years-old. Picture: Supplied

This was the last school photo taken on Ben before his death in March this year. Picture: Supplied

The parents have not levelled any criticism at the school and don’t make any claim that not everything was done to save their dearly loved son.

“We are not trying to blame anyone, we just want answers,” Ms Lambourn said.

Ben had been in and out of hospital since he was two-years-old when it was discovered he suffered from an inoperable brain tumour.

He could walk short distances but relied on a wheelchair to get around the school grounds. Just before his death he was also diagnosed with level 2 autism spectrum disorder.

“(The tumour) was in his brain stem and spinal cord and there always was a chance he could go, but it just made no sense what happened,” Mr Lambourn said.

Aware of CCTV cameras in the area where Ben collapsed the family have been unsuccessful in attempts to access footage of the incident.

“The lack of information we have got, they had to go back with the coroner two or three times,” Mr Lambourn said.

“And they can’t supply (the video) directly and they gave us a link to RTI, we have done that and we are waiting now.

“If we don’t get a more definite answer it has to be escalated.”

Eloise and Frank Lambourn stand in front of a shrine to 15-year-old son at their Edmonton home. Picture: Brendan Radke

In a statement Education Queensland extended a message of condolence to the Lambourn family.

“The Woree State High School community is heartbroken by the tragic loss of one of their students, and our thoughts and sincere sympathies are with their family, friends and loved ones during this difficult time,” a spokeswoman said.

“The department will continue to work with the family and offer them our full support.”

It’s understood privacy laws prohibit the release of video that in this case may inadvertently contain vision of other students.

If the personal information cannot be redacted then a formal application must be made under Right to Information laws.

Eloise and Frank Lambourn with their sons Chris and Ben when they were young. Picture: Brendan Radke

Ben’s classmates created a wreath of paper flowers that was presented to the family and loss of the student has also deeply affected staff at the school.

The Edmonton couple have got matching tattoos in honour of their little boy and say they are deeply troubled by not knowing exactly what happened to Ben.

“Six weeks later we are going through a whole lot of hurt, it’s just crap and it just piles on,” Mr Lambourn said.

“Ben was an old soul, he was into computers and Nerf guns, he collected pens and fidget toys because they helped with his anxiety.

“He was interested in Otto Braun and he got for his birthday books in German and he wanted to learn German so he could read the books.

“He knew the flags of the world and was so interested in encyclopedias and so many other things.”

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Originally published as Parents want answers over Ben Lambourn death at Woree State High School