A Washington high school community is grieving after a teenage lacrosse player died from a devastating injury suffered during a game.
Eliot Abramson, a 17-year-old sophomore at Mercer Island High School, died on Sunday, June 7, six days after he was struck in the back of the neck by a lacrosse ball during a college recruiting event.
The tragic accident happened on the evening of June 1 at Islander Stadium on Mercer Island, located near Seattle. Eliot was playing the sport he loved when the ball hit him just below the back of his helmet, according to his mother, Jessica Abramson.
Witnesses said the teen collapsed after the impact. A firefighter who happened to be at the game rushed in to help and kept Eliot’s heart beating until first responders arrived.
Eliot was then taken to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, where he spent nearly a week in intensive care before his death.
Mercer Island High School shared the heartbreaking news with students and families.
“It is with heartbreaking sadness we share devastating news about sophomore Eliot Abramson,” the school said in a message to the community, according to local reports.
Eliot was remembered as a dedicated athlete, a loving friend and an exceptional student. He had been involved in Mercer Island lacrosse since elementary school and played midfield.
His mother shared a heartbreaking tribute over the weekend, saying her son was injured “playing the sport he loved the most.”
During his final days in the hospital, she said Eliot was “surrounded constantly by his family and the immense love from friends and this wonderful community in which we live.”
“We have read him every note that was sent or posted, and we have heard and told a lot of ‘Eliot stories,’” Jessica wrote. “We have laughed and cried more than we could have imagined, and we have been held up by all your prayers, love and support.”
In another deeply emotional detail, Eliot’s mother said he had received his driver’s license just a few months before his death and had chosen to become an organ donor.
“We are proud of this decision and the fact that he will be saving many lives,” she wrote.
Jessica also said the family is taking comfort in the belief that Eliot is now reunited with his late father, Josef Abramson, who died when Eliot was young.
“While Eliot’s time on earth will end way too soon, we are comforted that he will be in heaven with his dad, making him laugh, playing music with his smile lighting up the room,” she wrote. “We’re sure he’ll be doing ‘wall ball’ in the sky and rooting for all his friends.”
Outside the Mercer Island High School lacrosse field, a memorial continued to grow as friends, classmates and community members left flowers, notes and tributes in Eliot’s honor.
KING 5 reported that more memorial services were being planned in the days following his death. A celebration of life was scheduled for June 15 at Herzl-Ner Tamid Synagogue on Mercer Island.
The school asked the community to keep Eliot’s family, friends and everyone who loved him in their thoughts during the devastating loss.
“As we grieve this loss together, may we continue to support one another with kindness, compassion, and care,” the school said.
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