A child was swiftly taken to the hospital this week after a section of his school’s ceiling collapsed on him. Emergency services responded promptly to the incident at George Washington Elementary School in Hanford, California, on Monday. Another child was also hospitalized but both were discharged on the same day.

The boy, identified as James Harrah, 8, was waiting to be picked up when part of the ceiling stucco from the school’s outdoor amphitheater suddenly fell on him. He described the terrifying moment, stating, “All I remember is when I was going out from school, the roof fell on me.” He sustained injuries and his arm is in a sling with bruising.

James’s mother, Diana Harrah, clarified that the roof collapsed as her son was walking past the amphitheater. She recounted, “It sounded like the one piece landed on top of his head and that knocked him over, and then another piece landed on top of him after he fell.” The family expressed their fear and shock over the incident.

Following the incident, in-person classes at Hanford Elementary School District will be suspended until at least December 1, with students transitioning to remote learning. District officials commended the quick response of school staff and emergency services, stating that they anticipate reopening the campus in December.

James is eager to reunite with his friends once classes resume, joking, “I think they might be impressed because a roof fell on me.” The family is relieved that both children are recovering well from the ordeal.