Community in prayer for Geraldton school graduate

The community has thrown their support behind a Geraldton student who suffered a brain aneurism on the day of his high school graduation.

Seventeen-year-old Strathalbyn Christian College deputy head boy Ben Phillips was set to graduate on Saturday night.

He had been snorkelling with friends and family in the morning when he complained of a headache and collapsed.

He was rushed to hospital, where friends and family sat by his bedside until he could be flown to Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital.

Ben underwent a successful surgery to remove a blood clot in his brain, with his family now waiting for swelling on the brain to go down.

Since then, both Strathalbyn Christian College and local churches have been in prayer for Ben’s recovery.

Stathalbyn Christian College principal Paul Arundell said there was loud applause at Ben’s graduation when it was announced that he’d been awarded the Caltex Best All Rounder for excellence in academics, sport, arts and service activities, and the Male Sports Star of the Year award.

“It was a sombre yet joyous event, we were able to celebrate Ben and our trust that God is looking after him,” he said.

“We applauded him at each moment his name was called, we’re praying that in the fullness of time, he’ll be able to come back and enjoy these awards."

Prayers were dedicated at Sunday services both at Geraldton Baptist Church and St George’s Bluff Point Anglican Church, where pastor Andrew Burr said a prayer chain had dedicated prayers to Ben and his family.

“We praying, we’re waiting, and we’re hoping,” he said.

A website set up by one of Ben’s friends to raise funds to help his family with travel and accommodation costs has so far raised more than $7000 in less than a day and been flooded with messages of support.