Several teenagers were left in a critical condition after ingesting a substance at a Gold Coast school on Wednesday.
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Six 15-year-olds and one 14-year-old were understood to be falling in and out of consciousness when paramedics arrived at Saint Stephen’s College on Reserve Road, Upper Coomera after noon.
A Queensland Ambulance Service spokesman said the boys were suffering the effects of ingesting a substance.
They were taken to Gold Coast University Hospital, with four in a critical condition, one in a serious condition and two stable.
Queensland Ambulance Service senior operations supervisor Patrick Berry said they were still trying to ascertain toxicology results but they believed the students had swallowed a drug and were initially treating them for an overdose.
"The QAS message is while we are still trying to ascertain toxicology results from what is possibly a substance they have ingested, we would like to take the message home that any drugs at all are a danger to take," he said.
"It's just Russian roulette, there is no such thing as recreational drugs."
Mr Berry praised the school's staff for noticing the deteriorating condition of the students and calling paramedics.
Saint Stephen's College is a co-education prep-to-year 12 independent school.
College principal Jamie Dorrington was at a conference in Brisbane at the time of the incident but returned to the school once he was notified.
Mr Dorrington said the school's primary concern was to ensure the children were being looked after.
"I will be visiting them later to ascertain just how well they're going," he said.
The principal posted to the school's Facebook page on Wednesday afternoon, informing parents of the incident.
"It is likely the students have ingested some kind of substance. While this is obviously of concern to me, it does allow me to reassure you that their illness was not due to anything contagious," the post said.
School mother Kristy Howard commented on the post, saying she was praying for the families of the boys.
"Hoping they make a full recovery. So very sad for our lovely school," she said.
A Queensland Police spokesman said they were investigating.
