Yonkers 6th grader dies after choking at school
Officials say at 11:39 a.m. at Justice Sonia Sotomayor Community School, a 6th grader was choking and became unresponsive.
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A 12-year-old boy choked to death at a Yonkers school on Wednesday morning.
Officials say it happened at Justice Sonia Sotomayor Community School just after 11:30 a.m.
"Everybody came to school, it was a normal day," said Yonkers Public School Superintendent Anibal Soler Jr. "Unfortunately, a tragic event happened."
Emergency responders attempted to resuscitate the sixth grader. He was taken to St Joseph's Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
"Multiple people tried to administer CPR. Multiple people responded - the nurse, everybody responded...until emergency services showed up. There were adults with him the entire way," said Soler Jr.
"As police investigate the nature of the medical emergency, we remain focused on caring for his classmates, teachers and staff who are in terrible pain," Soler Jr. wrote in a statement.
The district will provide grief counselors to help students during this time.
One licensed social worker tells News 12 that students will need space and time to process what happened.
"What's essential is to permit our children the space to share whatever feelings they might have, any questions they may have, any worries they may have, any concerns," said Executive Director of Bhava Therapy Group, Veronica Vaiti.
The child's identity has not been released.
