A tragic accident has raised concern over the safety of high school graduation trips, but students still intend to do it
Overseas high school graduation trips have stirred controversy following a serious road accident involving two students from West Island School.
Sahm Cooper and Adrian Chung crashed their motorbike on the Thai island of Koh Samui on June 22. Sahm, who suffered head injuries, remains in a coma.
Graduation trips to Koh Samui have long been part of the ESF (English Schools Foundation) tradition. And even though many students were shocked by the accident, they are still determined to take this rite of passage.
'We get one chance and we're not going to be stupid. We know our limits,' said a 17-year-old girl from Island School.
Schools cannot ban the excursions, which have a reputation for being a little on the wild side, as they are organised by the students themselves.
The trip marks the transition from high school to adulthood.