Police report released on fatal choking at Laurel Oak Elementary

Reporter: Jillian Haggerty Writer: Carolina Guzman
Published: Updated:

A new Collier County Sheriff’s Office police report has been released, shedding insight into what happened on the day a fifth grader choked at lunch.

According to the police report, on Oct. 17, the nurse’s aide at Laurel Oak Elementary School said Benjamin Cronin choked at lunch, and the Life Vac tool wasn’t working.

The tool is meant to suction out whatever is in the airway.

A Collier County deputy arrived to assist the choking child; however, Cronin was found lying motionless on a bench at the table.

The report said the deputy attempted to do the Heimlich on Cronin, CPR and used the AED machine before EMS arrived and took him to NCH North Hospital, where he later died two days later from complications.

WINK News contacted the Collier County Public Schools regarding the incident.

The CCPS public information officer confirmed that supervision was in the area, and the LifeVac and AED were fully functional.

CCPS stated on Thursday, “Due to federal law protecting the release of student information, CCPS says they are unable to provide further details on this incident.”

Copyright ©2024 Fort Myers Broadcasting. All rights reserved.

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without prior written consent.