A somber cloud descended over the FIRST Global Challenge 2025 in Panama as a tragic incident claimed the life of a young participant. Madeline Thompson, a 16-year-old student from St. Augustine’s College in the Bahamas, fell to her death during the international robotics competition. The event, which took place from October 29 to November 1, brought together teams from across the globe, including a contingent from Belize High School. The final day of the competition turned into a day of mourning when Thompson’s body was discovered near a public pool on the twelfth floor of the venue at approximately 6 a.m. Initial reports indicate that she had been staying on the twenty-seventh floor with two peers. The circumstances surrounding her fall remain unclear, and Panamanian authorities have yet to determine if foul play was involved. The Bahamian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has stepped in to assist, collaborating with local officials and Thompson’s parents, who were present at the event, to navigate the aftermath of this devastating loss.
