Sixth-Grader Breaks Spine in Chelyabinsk PE Class
A sixth-grade girl sustained a spinal injury during a physical education class at Educational Center No. 5 in Chelyabinsk. She was performing somersaults as instructed by the teacher and felt pain in her neck. At the hospital, the girl was diagnosed with a severe injury. She will have to spend six months lying down in a brace. Educational Center No. 5 assured that they are ready to provide assistance to their student.
As told to 74.RU by the sixth-grader«s mother Yevgenia, the accident occurred on 20 November.
«The whole class was doing somersaults, my daughter did the first one incorrectly, after which the teacher made her do a second somersault. She somersaulted and it started to hurt in her neck. She told the teacher about it, who sat her on a bench,» Yevgenia described the events of that day. «We, many parents, have big questions about this teacher, about her experience. At the school, physical education teachers change very often, she specifically has been teaching lessons for the first year.»
According to Yevgenia, her daughter was taken to the medical room by friends, and then they called her and informed her about what happened. The mother insisted that an ambulance team be called to the school.
«The girls said that she was unwell, but I couldn’t understand anything,» the mother continues. «They handed the phone to the medic, she said: “Take your child and call an ambulance.” I was driving from Kopeysk (Chelyabinsk Oblast) at that moment. My daughter already had difficulty breathing, so I asked them to call an ambulance to the school. But the medic argued with me for a long time — she didn’t want to call an ambulance, then the homeroom teacher got involved, and thanks to her, they finally called one.»
The girl was taken out of the school on a stretcher. At the hospital, she was diagnosed with compression fractures of three vertebrae. The schoolgirl will spend six months lying down in a special brace.
«I told her that she would have to lie down for six months, my daughter is simply in a state of shock and hysterical. I myself am at my limit, because I sent a completely healthy child to school, and now he is immobilized for six months,» Yevgenia shares. «Who is to blame for this injury? I want to establish the truth. I now need to take unpaid leave in order to provide care for her. Since my daughter is immobilized for six months, I am now tied to her. Who will compensate for the treatment? The suffering from this illness? The lack of movement, learning, and communication?»
Educational Center No. 5 told 74.RU that they are conducting an internal investigation.
«From the cameras, it is visible that the teacher was demonstrating the technique of performing somersaults. The girl did it incorrectly the first time, the teacher asked her to redo it. Probably, the student did it incorrectly again and injured herself,» commented Educational Center No. 5. «In the medical room, the girl was given first aid, after which the mother was informed, and an ambulance was called. The school will provide comprehensive assistance to the child.»
We asked the school representatives about the teacher’s work experience, but they did not answer, considering such information as personal data. However, on the website of Educational Center No. 5, this information is posted — the teaching experience of the physical education teacher as of 1 November 2025 was 2 months and 1 day.
