The Star-Telegram is reporting that 13-year-old North Texas Natadores swimmer Elise Cerami passed away tonight after her teammates found her floating in the pool during this morning’s swim practice.
Cerami was rushed to Baylor Regional Medical Center and then Cook Children’s Medical Center in Fort Worth, Texas by helicopter this morning. According to Dallas Morning News, it’s not clear how long she was underwater during the incident at Carroll Senior High School in Southlake, Texas.
Her coach, Bill Christiansen, performed CPR and then collapsed. He was hospitalized, showing symptoms of a heart attack. Reportedly, he is now in “good condition.”
“The support has just been overwhelming,” her father, David Cerami, said in the statement. “We send our best wishes to Coach Bill for a full recovery, and thank him, all the other students and staff who helped respond and do everything they could to try to help and save Elise.”
Cerami had just finished eighth grade at in the Carroll school district and was in the team’s “advanced” group.
The Tarrant County medical examiner’s office has not reported the cause of death.
We are part of the North Texas swim family and are heartbroken for this family. We have not met them, but have heard amazing things about this young lady. There is a scholarship fund being set up in Elise’s name. Not sure if link is allowed on this site – but here is it is.
https://www.youcaring.com/david-cerami-589799
My stomach dropped when I heard about this terrible event. I understand what it feels like and what this team is going through because last summer I had a teammate and a coach pass away. It is devastating. My heart goes out to everyone’s lives she touched. There will be hard days filled with sorrow and anger when all you can think about is Elise, but remember to be thankful for the time you got to spend with her and never ever ever let her be forgotten. Celebrate her life and cherish her memory.
Every child that wants to play sports should be checked for irregular arrhythmia. It should be required during their physicals. It is a simple test.
Prayers go out to the family, coach and her teammates. My son swam at the meet with her on Sunday. #ripelise
Prayers for all who knew and loved her, must especially her parents.
Prayers for the Cerami Family -Tragic. Bill is one of the best coaches in the nation -and even a better man. I pray that the NTN family can pull together and support each other. Know all of us are thinking of you.
Sending love and prayers from south Louisiana.
Found floating is such a vague statement, one that tells very little. If someone had a heart problem they could be “floating” in seconds and “found” seconds after that.
The statement by itself doesn’t imply anyone did anything wrong.
Tragic.
Thoughts with the family, team, friends.
My condolences to her family. First guess would be one of those totally asymptomatic heart conditions where everything seems fine until it very awfully is fin no longer.