John Smythe, 16, fell while "extemely" intoxicated

It's every parent's nightmare:  One bad decision, and you lose your kid.

On June 7th, 2005, John Smythe cut his 10th grade classes at Masterman,  and went to play with his friends at one of the griends 's home.   The friends raided the liquor cabinet and downed shots.  The host, discovering the boys' bad judgment, made them leave.  John got confused, tried to climb an embankment, and fell to his death.

My sincere condolences to his grieving family and friends.

Posted on Thu, Jun. 09, 2005  Teen's death tied to alcohol
Masterman student had skipped classes  By GLORIA CAMPISI, campisg@phillynews.com

Officials have ruled the death of a 16-year-old Masterman student whose body was found in Fairmount Park near the Henry Avenue Bridge Tuesday an accident.

John Smyth, a 10th-grader at Masterman, a school for high-achieving public-school students, wasn't in class that day, said schools spokesman Vince Thompson. Thompson could not confirm rumors that Smyth and other Masterman students had played hookey to celebrate the near end of the school year.

Jeff Moran, spokesman for the medical examiner's office, said an autopsy had concluded that Smyth died from multiple injuries suffered in a fall and that "extreme alcohol intoxication" was a contributing factor to his death.

Moran said he had no details on Smyth's fall, but police public-information spokeswoman Officer Sheila Smith said the type of injuries that Smyth suffered appeared to rule out that he had jumped or fallen from the bridge.

Smyth's body was found near Lincoln Drive. Police at first thought he had been hit by a car.

Mourners were still pouring into the Smyth family home on 10th Street near Fitzwater, last night. The boy's father, also named John Smyth, said his son was a member of the chess team at Masterman and was active in neighborhood sports.

"The story is John is a product of Center City Philadelphia, and a lot of wonderful schools, friends and sports," the elder Smyth said.

He said his son's death had "affected a lot of kids."

Smyth's parents were unaware he hadn't been to school Tuesday, his father said. "They were done with their exams. They ended up playing hookey. That's what we were led to believe."

2005 Alcohol ODs and alcohol + accident deaths.

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In all cases, my deepest condolences to family and friends.

Underage Alcohol Deaths 2004
Underage Alcohol Deaths 2005
Underage Alcohol Deaths 2006

Signs of Alcohol Poisoning

Alcohol depresses nerves that control involuntary actions such as breathing, the heartbeat and the gag reflex that prevents choking. A fatal dose of alcohol will eventually stop these functions. After the victim stops drinking, the heart keeps beating, and the alcohol in the stomach continues to enter the bloodstream and circulate through the system. The victim may experience the following:

• Mental confusion, stupor, coma, unable to rouse the person
• No response to pinching the skin
• Vomiting while sleeping or unresponsive
• Seizures
• Slowed breathing  (fewer than 8 breaths per minute)
• Irregular breathing (10 seconds or more between breaths)
• Hypothermia (low body temperature), bluish skin color, paleness

Alcohol Poisoning Requires Immediate Medical Attention

Alcohol Poisoning Cannot Be Reversed By:

• Drinking black coffee
• Taking a cold bath or shower
• Walking it off

The victim must have immediate medical attention.
Call 911, stay with the victim to prevent him choking on vomit, and tell emergency personnel how much alcohol the victim drank.

These Children Died of Alcohol Overdose, So Their Parents Started Foundations:

Taylor Webster's memorial foundation.  Taylor died of alcohol  poisoning at age 19-- Now his family and friends are working  to get the message out, telling their stories and providing  information on alcohol poisoning and the signs and symtoms  of alcohol poisoning in hopes that lives will be saved.

Bradley McCue's memorial foundation.  On November 5, 1998  Bradley turned 21. . He celebrated  his birthday in a way that has become increasingly popular, drinking "his  age in shots". That amount of alcohol was lethal and he died  that night of alcohol poisoning.

Samantha Spady's memorial foundation. A 19-year old student at Colorado State University, Spady died of alcohol poisoning on September 5, 2004, "an unintentional tragedy."  The Spadys say the SAM [Student Alcohol Management] Spady Foundation will develop peer-to-peer counseling and other services meant to reduce the risk of alcohol abuse.

Gordie Bailey's memorial foundation Mission: to provide today’s youth with the skills to navigate the dangers of alcohol, and through education and promotion of self worth prevent alcohol poisoning, binge drinking and hazing. 

Kimberly Ostien's memorial foundation: "With binge drinking on the rise, we feel it necessary to get the message out on the danger of alcohol, especially excessive alcohol consumed in a short period of time.  Students are educated on drugs and alcohol but they will continue to experiment no matter what.  We want to educate on what to do when a friend falls down or passes out from drinking.  Often we want to put that person to bed to sleep it off and that is when the trouble can begin."  The card lists the information, above.

Comments

[t. weinberg]

Heart braking for this young promising young man and never to be forgotten by his family who I have deep and profound symphathy.

[Samuel]

I was just searching for Johnny Smyth when I found this. I was in Johnny's class (and had known him since 5th grade, though we grew apart after 8th) and remember the day I found out. I remember everything leading up to it to, the whole time period is burned into my memory. I can't believe it's almost been a year (less than 2 months). It's good to know there are other people who never knew Johnny and yet still care about him, and are aware of these sadly avoidable deaths.

[Megan]

I am a senior at Masterman School. It is comforting to know that people, strangers care about our boy Johnny. His passing should have taught us, especially Masterman students about the dangers of drinking and irresponsibility. It just angers me how students at our school still drink way to much and have wild parties. HAVE WE LEARNED NOTHING?

[trynguess]

adding to megan's comment: the students that still drink include the people involved from what i've heard.. and masterman is a tiny school so what you hear is generally true

[Talani]

I didn't know Johnny too well. I remember him from the brief time that I was on the Masterman chess team and he was really nice. I was friends with his little brother Julian and everytime someone mentions his name I remember the day that the entire school found out what had happened. I remember all of the teachers and students crying and even people who hadn't known him were sad. I may have only been in 7th grade at the time but I do know that it is a disgrace that Masterman kids in my grade do the exact same thing. Get drunk, throw wild parties and skip school. Apparently the fact that we go to Masterman doesn't mean that we are necessarily smarter than others.

[anonymus]

happy birthday johnny...

[anonymous]

almost four years...unbelievable. Johnny was one of my best friends in middle school and his laugh is forever in my head. Such a genuine and sweet kid and I think about him everyday. RIP Johnny

[steph k]

Yeah four years June 7th. I still can't believe it. I remember always being over his house with my sister. Johnny was one of my best friends and he was such a good kid. I miss him all the time and will never forget him.

[linds]

i miss you everday johnny, i know it has been a while but i will never forget you. i love you and hear your laugh all the time.

[Bonnie]

We also miss Johnny everyday, never more so than at this time of year. My older daughter grew up with him. I have always been disturbed by the fact that Johnny and another boy, found passed out on a lawn nearby, were asked to leave. If only someone had just called their parents to pick them up, or even the police, this tragedy might have been avoided. It also disturbs me that it appears one of the "hosts" first actions was to be sure their name was not reported in the press and to create the impression that the host (which was a classmate; I understand no parent was present) was not involved in the drinking, which I believe is not true. I have seen plenty of other news reports where the host families in similar circumstances were not only reported, but sometimes arrested. To me, this flies in the face of good parenting and teaching our children to take responsibility for their own actions. Perhaps this is one of the reasons why trynguess above notes that these boys were still drinking.

[anonymous]

miss you johnny, love you and think about you constantly. I see you through julian everyday. you live on through other people.