DuPage County Coroner: Willowbrook student died after choking in lunch room

LOMBARD – DuPage County officials are investigating the death of a 15-year-old Willowbrook High School student.

At 12:16 p.m. Sept. 19, the Villa Park fire and police departments responded to an incident at Willowbrook High School for a student who was choking in the lunch room.

The student was unresponsive as paramedics arrived and began life saving protocol measures. The 15-year-old was transported to Elmhurst Hospital but was pronounced dead at 1:09 p.m, according to a news release from the DuPage County Coroner's office.

According to the coroner, the student had Down syndrome, but that doesn't appear to have any bearing on the student's death.

An autopsy was performed on Sept. 20, which provided a preliminary indication that the victim may have choked on a piece of food.