Girl, 7, Dies At Suburban Cheer Camp
CHICAGO (CBS) -- A 7-year-old girl died unexpectedly Monday while attending a cheerleading camp at Maine South High School in Park Ridge.
Katherine Babich, of Park Ridge, fell ill Monday morning, and was taken to Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, where she was pronounced dead early Monday afternoon, according to Maine Township High School Distrct 207 and the Cook County Medical Examiner's office.
Katherine was a second grader at Field Elementary School in Park Ridge, and was at Maine South for a cheer camp for 2nd to 5th graders, according to Park Ridge-Niles School District 64.
"All of us at District 64 are saddened by the loss of one of our students, and extend our deepest sympathies to her family," according to Superintendent Laurie Heinz. "Kate is known as an inspired learner, a leader and a good friend to everyone in her class. … I know her classmates and Field staff will miss her dearly."
District 64 was providing counselors for students, families, and staff. Maine South also was making crisis counselors available for parents and children who had been attending the cheer camp.
The rest of the cheer camp, originally scheduled to run through Friday, has been canceled.
An autopsy was scheduled for Tuesday.