Parkland High School student dies weeks after being struck by tree branch at cross-country practice

A Parkland High School student, 15, has died roughly four weeks after he was hit by a falling tree branch during an outing with his cross-country team in Allentown, the Lehigh County Coroner's Office said Monday.

According to the coroner's office, the boy was pronounced dead on Sunday. NBC10 reported that his death came 29 days after the injury and occurred at Lehigh Valley Hospital–Cedar Crest.

The coroner's office ruled the death accidental and attributed it to complications of several blunt force injuries, CBS Philadelphia, 6abc, FOX 29 and NBC10 reported.

The injury happened around 9 a.m. on Oxford Drive's 1300 block, close to the Little Lehigh Parkway. Reports conflicted on the date. Citing the coroner's office, CBS Philadelphia said it was Saturday, Sept. 25. 6abc, FOX 29 and NBC10 each put it on Sept. 26, and NBC10 called that day a Saturday.

6abc and FOX 29 reported that, according to authorities, the teen was accompanied by cross-country teammates at the time. CBS Philadelphia said he was at practice.

The boy's name has not been made public. According to FOX 29 and NBC10, the coroner's office said it was withholding his identity so his family could mourn in private. "I believe his family deserves the time, space, and privacy to grieve the loss of their loved one without additional public attention," the coroner said in a news release, NBC10 reported.

In a written statement reported by CBS Philadelphia, Lehigh County Coroner Daniel A. Buglio expressed sympathy to the boy's relatives, friends and teammates, as well as the broader school community. "The loss of a young life is especially heartbreaking," Buglio wrote, according to the station.

According to NBC10, Parkland High School put out a statement after the September incident and made counseling available to students and staff.

None of the outlets said what caused the branch to fall, and none described the boy's condition during the weeks between the injury and his death.

Compiled by True News from reporting by CBS Philadelphia, 6abc Action News, FOX 29 Philadelphia and NBC10 Philadelphia. Each outlet's original story is linked below.

Originally published by True News: https://truenews.bagleyenterprises.net/stories/499