Jordan Gilling's friends had the first inkling that something was wrong when they realised that he had missed his integrated science CSEC exam on Monday.

Their concern and worry later turned into shock and grief when they learned that the 16-year-old Meadowbrook High student died in a freak accident at his home earlier that morning.

tripped

Reports from the Constabulary Communication Network are that about 9 a.m., a family member heard the sound of glass crashing and went to investigate. Jordan was found with his head through the glass of a wardrobe and a piece of glass piercing his neck. It is reported that the teen tripped over some gym equipment and crashed into the glass. He later died at the Kingston Public Hospital.

Friends and schoolmates told THE STAR that Jordan was a happy person who loved to joke around. His former classmate, Resha Lewis, said, "He was not a hype person. He was easy-going. I was just really shocked. I saw him the other day walking with a friend and we said hi to each other. So when I heard, I was just really shocked. And just to hear about the way he died, I was like 'wow, major freak accident'."

Matthew Hall, another of Jordan's friends, told THE STAR that the two were extremely close in their early years at Meadowbrook High School. He, too, is shocked by his friend's sudden passing and said the sadness has not yet taken effect as he is still in disbelief. He said, "He was my first friend in grade seven and we became best friends in grade eight. He was always at my house, playing video games. He repeated grade nine, but we were still close. When I heard, it was a friend of mine that saw some messages on Facebook (popular social site), but I didn't believe. I called his house and asked if it was true. All now I can't accept it. Up to the night before his death, I was talking to him."

hard for his peers

His friends said the general feeling among Jordan's schoolmates and classmates is shock. His untimely passing has been hard for his peers to deal with, especially as they prepare for their exams.

Jordan is the third student to die suddenly at Meadowbrook. Last November, a sixth-form student died from a heart condition and earlier this year, another of Jordan's schoolmates died suddenly from an asthma attack.