Caitlin Nelson, a 20-year-old social work student from Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, CT, choked to death while participating in a school pancake eating contest.
Reports say that while she was engaged in the Greek life event, she began to "shake uncontrollably" and two nursing students jumped in to help save her while police were being contacted.
While it is unknown if she had any allergies, Fairfield Police Chief Gary MacNamara says that "the obstruction was not easily cleared and that lack of oxygen for that amount of time ultimately caused severe damage.”
This is not the first tragedy to strike the Nelson family however. Caitlin's dad was a Port Authority officer who was killed while helping evacuate the World Trade Center during the 9/11 attacks. Caitlin was only 5-years-old at the time.
Sacred Heart University has held a service for the student and the school's flag was lowered to half-staff.
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