RB High Mourns Sudden Death of David Hu

Updated 10:19 a.m. Friday with details from the medical examiner.

Rancho Bernardo High School is mourning the sudden death of academic standout senior David Hu, 17, who died suddenly Thursday morning, the principal said.

“We found out early yesterday morning that David Hu had passed away early that morning, somewhere around 5 a.m.,” Principal Paul Robinson said. “(His) brother went into his room and found him and they called 911. They tried to revive him.”

According to the San Diego County Medical Examiner's Office, Hu was pronounced dead at Pomerado Hospital at 6:47 a.m. Thursday after paramedics, following unsuccessful revival attempts at his home, transported him there. A cause of death has not yet been determined, pending autopsy, an investigator said.

About 300 students and community members came together at the high school Thursday night for a candlelight vigil, and were addressed by the student’s parents, Robinson said.

“Shared a lot of stories. Cried a lot. Laughed a lot,” Robinson said. “He was just a really, really fine young man, great young man. He’s going to be terribly missed.”

Hu had just been accepted to MIT, Robinson said. Last January, the Poway Unified School District board honored Hu for earning a perfect 2400 score on his SAT at the October 2010 test. He attended the board meeting with his mother and received a certificate of recognition.

Robinson said counselors were available Thursday and continue to be available for students who are coping with the loss of one of their peers. For many, this is the first person they know who has died, he said.

“We’re still trying to take care of each other,” Robinson said. “What’s really nice and great about the school is when tragedies occur we do everything we can to pull together and make sure we’re OK.”

Robinson said he is still waiting to hear from the family about services for Hu.

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