MALACCA: A Year Two pupil died in front of her teachers and other children at a premier Chinese primary school here in Bandar Hilir, despite efforts by doctors to save her.

Yap Li Xuen's death was doubly heartbreaking for her parents who had lost their elder daughter, Li Choo, five years ago. Then only five, Li Choo had succumbed to brain tumour.

Li Xuen, eight, was found unconscious in the toilet of SJKC Pay Fong II along Jalan Tamby Abdullah by janitor Chong Kim Leng at about 1.30pm.

The 43-year-old was cleaning the toilet when she heard a thud from one of the cubicles.

"I found the toilet door locked. I realised something was wrong when I noticed a girl's braid sticking out from under the door," she said when met at the school here yesterday.

Chong immediately alerted the security guard who managed to break open the toilet door and found Li Xuen lying motionless.

A few teachers helped carry Li Xuen out and placed her on two tables at the main entrance of the school.

Other teachers frantically sought help from a nearby clinic, a private medical centre and the Malacca Hospital.

Headmaster Ng Nai Tak said the girl's father, Choh Yu, 42, arrived when the doctors were trying to revive Li Xuen.

Choh Yu, a stationery shop owner, said he and his 39-year-old wife were now left only with a four-year-old son.

He added that Li Xuen had seemed normal and did not complain of any pain or illness before leaving for school yesterday morning.

However, she is known to have passed out on several occasions.

Police have classified the incident as sudden death pending the post-mortem result.