5th grade student dies in school accident

Community mourns death of Lake Oswego 5th grader
A Palisades Elementary School fifth grader died Tuesday after he was struck in the throat by a football during recess.
Video: Coping with tragedy

06:22 PM PDT on Wednesday, October 15, 2008

By kgw.com Staff

PORTLAND -- Friends and supporters brought flowers to a memorial at Palisades Elementary School in Lake Oswego Tuesday after a tragic accident took the life of a fifth-grader.

Parents of children at the school identified the victim as 11-year-old Austin Sergeev.

Sergeev was playing flag football during recess when he was hit in the neck with the ball while trying to block a punt. He collapsed and died at the hospital soon after.

"It was clear that the impact of the football had impacted his airway," Duin said.

Sergeev lay gasping for air in front of his friends and classmates.

School staff radioed the office for help and paramedics were on the scene in three minutes to begin CPR, Duin said.
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