Autopsy Is Pending for Garfield Football Player

An autopsy is pending for a high school football player who died last week, two days after collapsing at practice, a spokesman for the Los Angeles County coroner’s office said Monday.

Christian Castaneda, 15, a junior at Garfield High in East Los Angeles, was pronounced dead Thursday at 7:05 p.m. at Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center, said Scott Carrier, spokesman for the coroner’s office.

Castaneda was taken to the hospital by paramedics last Tuesday after vomiting and collapsing during an on-campus practice.

Carrier said his office was awaiting Castaneda’s body and medical records from the hospital before scheduling an autopsy.

He also said additional tests could be performed, and it may be weeks before a definitive cause of death is determined. On Monday, Garfield Coach Ray Galarze referred questions to school Principal Norma Danyo.

Danyo said Castaneda became “violently ill,” during a light scrimmage last Tuesday and retired to the sideline. Danyo said Castaneda continued to be ill, and coaches administered cardiopulmonary resuscitation without delay when he lost consciousness. Two administrators on campus simultaneously contacted paramedics and Castaneda’s parents, Danyo said.

“It was my understanding that Christian at no time regained consciousness,” Danyo said. “We don’t have a full report and so we do not know what led up to this. I can say that everyone did exactly what they were supposed to do in a timely fashion.”

Grief counselors were on campus Thursday, Friday and Monday to assist students, faculty and staff, Danyo said.

“Our students are doing well and the counselors have commended them for being verbal, frank and open,” she said.

Danyo said funeral arrangements are pending.