A College Student choked to death during a pancake-eating contest. Now, her family is suing the school.(2 Pics)
The grieving family of a 20-year-old sorority woman is suing Sacred Heart University in Connecticut to raise awareness of the dangers of amateur eating contests after she choked on pancakes.
Caitlin Nelson participated in the school's Greek Week celebration on March 30, 2017, when the young woman started shaking uncontrollably and fell to the floor after eating multiple pancakes in a short period of time.
In the family's lawsuit, reported by Fox News, they said responding officers found a mass of pancake paste 'like concrete' in her airway.
'Caitlin's family is bringing this case to expose the dangers associated with amateur eating contests and to help prevent other families from having to endure this kind of preventable tragedy,' Katie Mesner-Hage, of Koskoff, Koskoff & Bieder, which represents the family, said in a statement.
'These contests are significantly more dangerous than people realize and it's critically important for the public — especially educational institutions, to understand that certain foods are safer than others and a modicum of forethought can literally save lives.'
The official cause of death was 'asphyxia due to obstruction of airway by bolus of food.' Nelson passed away at Columbia University Medical Center three days after the event.
The college student's organs were removed and were donated, the Connecticut Post reported at the time.
Nelson, whose father was a police officer killed in the 9/11 attacks, received a heroes' escort by Port Authority police as her body was taken to the New York Office of the Chief Medical Examiner's office.
Witnesses at the Greek life dinner on Thursday night said Nelson had eaten about four or five pancakes when she suddenly fell to the floor and started shaking uncontrollably.
Two nursing students who were there immediately began lifesaving measures and were quickly joined by police officers and paramedics, Fairfield Police Lt. Bob Kalamaras said.
She was taken to a hospital in Bridgeport in critical but stable condition and transferred on Friday to New York-Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center, where she died on Sunday.
Kalamaras said Nelson suffered from food allergies but that they did not contribute to her death.
'It's a tragic event that started out as something fun,' said Fairfield police Lt. Bob Kalamaras. 'It was just a tragic accident.'
Nelson was studying to be a social worker and was the vice president of her sorority, Kappa Delta.
Several thousand people gathered on the Sacred Heart campus after the tragedy to remember Nelson, a member of the Kappa Delta sorority, and share their grief.
A Mass dedicated to her was followed by an impromptu candlelight vigil.
Nelson's father, James Nelson, was a Port Authority of New York and New Jersey police officer killed in the September 11 attacks in Manhattan, when she was five years old.
The 40-year-old was killed while trying to rescue people trapped on the 27th floor of one of the towers.
He also went into the smoking World Trade Center to rescue workers during the 1993 bombing, despite having asthma. His obituary said he was survived by two daughters, 11-year-old Anne and 5-year-old Caitlin.
The Nelson sisters volunteered with the Resiliency Center of Newtown, helping survivors of the Sandy Hook School shooting deal with their losses.
Nelson was also involved with America's Camp, an annual retreat for children of 9/11 victims.
The university's Facebook page was filled with remembrances of Nelson after her passing.
'Caitlin was one of the kindest and most thoughtful students I've been honored to teach,' one user named Karen Calabrese wrote. 'I'm heartbroken for her family and friends. Sending love and strength to her loved ones during this difficult time.'
Another woman, Carol Martufi, wrote: 'There are no words. My heart is broken over this tragic loss. Prayers to Caitlin, her family and friends and to the entire SHU family. May she RIP as she is reunited with her dad in heaven.'
Sacred Heart was also sued earlier this month by two former college football players who were falsely accused of rape by a fellow student.
Connecticut court records show that former Sacred Heart University football players Dhameer Bradley and Malik St. Hilaire filed a lawsuit against Nikki Yovino, of South Setauket, New York, on October 10.
The lawsuit's allegations against Yovino, 20, include slander and infliction of emotional distress. They also accused the school of wrongly suspending them.
