2nd grader who collapsed at Eastwood Heights dies, family asking for help

The student who collapsed in a playground Tuesday has died, according to Patricia Ayala, a spokeswoman with the Ysleta Independent School District.

“It is with deep sadness that we confirm that a second-grade student at Eastwood Heights Elementary School collapsed on the playground during lunch on Tuesday,” a statement issued by the district states. “He was immediately transported to the hospital, where he later passed away.”

A source close to the student’s family identified him as Vicente Aranda Jr. That same source said the child suffered from a medical condition.

The child’s family set up a Go Fund Me account to help pay for funeral expenses. If you would like to help the family during this tragic ordeal, click here.

YISD said its staff, teachers and student body are “heartbroken over the tragic loss of the student. Our heartfelt thoughts and prayers are with his family and the Eastwood Heights community.”

YISD Chief Operations Officer Pat O’Neill told ABC-7 the student collapsed in the playground during lunch at about 11:30 am Wednesday. The student was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

O’Neill said grief counselors would be made available to students and teachers. “We’re proceeding as normal, of course it’s very difficult, but it was important that we’re here. Kids are very resilient.”

The district official told ABC-7 there was adequate supervision in the playground when the student collapsed.

“The nurse did an awesome job. She did a fantastic job and we’re very proud of what she did in a very difficult situation,” O’Neill said, “I administered CPR and when EMS got here they took over.”

“I would never want to imagine going through it, you know, my kids are my life,” said Eric Dubrule, the father of a student at Eastwood Heights. “You send them to school to learn, you don’t ever expect them not to come back from school. I feel really bad for the family.”

Another parent, Yvette Elizalde, told ABC-7 she is having a hard time explaining the boy’s death to her daughter. “I am worried about her asking questions like ‘why?’ or ‘is that going to happen to me?’ or being scared to come to school and play. They’re going to need somebody to talk to, somebody to lean on.”

“Love your child every day because there’s no guarantee about tomorrow,” O’Neill said.