Student dies after collapsing
while running during gym class
DuluthNewsTribune.com
May 4th, 2005
GREEN BAY, Wis. - An eighth-grader, who collapsed
during a gym class held at a park Wednesday and later
died, had a medical condition that put him at greater
risk of a sudden heart problem, authorities said.
The Washington Middle School student had been running
during the class at nearby Joannes Park when he collapsed,
said Amanda Brooker, a spokeswoman for the Green Bay
school district.
School workers performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation
on the boy until an ambulance crew arrived and took
him to St. Vincent Hospital, she said.
He was one of about 330 students in the school's
eighth grade. Counselors were there to talk to students
about the boy's death, Brooker said. School officials
did not identify the boy.
Al Klimek, Brown County interim medical examiner,
said the 15-year-old student was known to be at greater
risk of abrupt cardiac death because of a medical
condition but had no limitations for physical exercise.
The condition was known to the child's family and
pediatrician, Klimek said.
He said there was no suspicion or indication of drug
involvement, trauma or wrongdoing. A final cause of
death won't be available until after toxicology tests.
Principal Amy Bindas said the school was devastated.
"We are grieving along with the family,"
she said in a written statement. "No words can
adequately express how we feel."
The school does not have a defibrillator available
to revive a person with a heart problem, but a grant
is in place to provide one and staff training has
been scheduled May 11.
Bindas said that in Wednesday's incident, paramedics
were on the scene before a defibrillator could have
been brought out. |
