Posted on Wed, Aug. 04, 2004
9-year-old dies on soccer field
Associated Press
ANTIOCH, Calif. - Authorities are trying to figure out why an apparently healthy 9-year-old girl suddenly collapsed and died after her first soccer practice.
Ariana Williams, who was a swimmer and took karate lessons, collapsed and died Monday night shortly after her first soccer practice at Grant Elementary School in Antioch.
"My only baby - and I saw it all," said her mother, Sheila Washington. "She was my best little friend. She was my whole life. I don't know what I'm going to do without her."
Two autopsies Tuesday could not determine a cause of death, Sgt. Daryl England of the Contra Costa County coroner's officer told the San Francisco Chronicle. Authorities still plan to conduct further tests.
Williams, an active child, was determined to be healthy at a physical in June, her mother said.
The weather was cool Monday night and Williams was not injured before she collapsed.
"At the end of practice, I called them all in," coach Ryan Frits told the Chronicle. "She ran right up. Then she just fell over. Everybody thought she was kind of goofing off. We said, `Get up.' She made a small effort to lift herself and then completely went limp and fell."
A firefighter and police officer, who were parents of two of the kids, immediately gave Williams CPR before paramedics arrived. Williams was taken to Sutter Delta Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead.
9-year-old dies on soccer field
Associated Press
ANTIOCH, Calif. - Authorities are trying to figure out why an apparently healthy 9-year-old girl suddenly collapsed and died after her first soccer practice.
Ariana Williams, who was a swimmer and took karate lessons, collapsed and died Monday night shortly after her first soccer practice at Grant Elementary School in Antioch.
"My only baby - and I saw it all," said her mother, Sheila Washington. "She was my best little friend. She was my whole life. I don't know what I'm going to do without her."
Two autopsies Tuesday could not determine a cause of death, Sgt. Daryl England of the Contra Costa County coroner's officer told the San Francisco Chronicle. Authorities still plan to conduct further tests.
Williams, an active child, was determined to be healthy at a physical in June, her mother said.
The weather was cool Monday night and Williams was not injured before she collapsed.
"At the end of practice, I called them all in," coach Ryan Frits told the Chronicle. "She ran right up. Then she just fell over. Everybody thought she was kind of goofing off. We said, `Get up.' She made a small effort to lift herself and then completely went limp and fell."
A firefighter and police officer, who were parents of two of the kids, immediately gave Williams CPR before paramedics arrived. Williams was taken to Sutter Delta Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead.
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