Boy, 8, dies after breaking his arm at school

Boy, 8, dies after breaking his arm at school Sam Courtney-Guy Sam Courtney-Guy Published November 24, 2025 2:53pm Updated November 24, 2025 2:55pm Share this article via whatsappShare this article via xCopy the link to this article.Link is copiedShare this article via facebook Comment now Comments Matthew Breen, 8, suffered complications and later stopped breathing (Picture: Clara Breen)

An eight-year-old Irish boy died after becoming unwell while awaiting treatment for a broken arm, according to his family.

Matthew Breen, from Rathnew, County Wicklow, suffered a double fracture to his arm in an accident at school on November 6.

He was taken to hospital but discharged on the same day and booked in for surgery the following day.

His family says he seeemed ‘completely fine’ besides the injury on the day of the accident.

But he began to feel poorly after his mum brought him to Crumlin Children’s Hospital on November 7.

Matthew was ‘given tablets and steroids’ but was ‘vomiting all day’ and later starting having ‘trouble with his breathing’, a relative said.

The hospital discharged him after further treatment and made an appointment for him to see a lung specialist at Tallaght hospital on November 11.

More Trending

1. 

   Girl taken to hospital after drinking 'disinfectant' from Happy Meal bottle

   Channel: World World 1 day ago By Luke Alsford
2. Passenger, 73, dies after falling from Disney Wonder cruise ship
3. Russia dangling $100,000,000,000 'carrot' as payoff to Trump
4. One dead and 11 injured after grizzly bear attacks school trip

But the evening before the appointment his breathing worsened and eventually stopped, prompting the family to call an ambulance.

Paramedics managed to resuscitate him and took him back to Crumlin Children’s Hospital where he was put in an induced coma and died a week later.

The family are currently raising money via GoFundMe to help Matthew’s family.

In a tribute the 8-year-old, who was the eldest of five siblings, was described as ‘the most loving little boy’ who was ‘loved by all who knew him’.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at [email protected].

For more stories like this, check our news page.

Arrow MORE: I let my kids skip school when they feel like it — duvet days are important

Arrow MORE: Kids are scared to raise their hands in school due to hygiene worries

Arrow MORE: Guinness drinkers divided over ‘sacrilegious’ 60/40 blend no one asked for

Comment now Comments Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source News Updates

Stay on top of the headlines with daily email updates.

Email I agree to receive newsletters from Metro I agree to receive newsletters from Metro Sign UpSign Up

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Your information will be used in line with our Privacy Policy