Memorial for Teen Swimmer to be Held Thursday at Carroll Senior High School

The family of a teenager who drowned Monday is inviting those close to her to a public memorial service Thursday.

Elise Cerami, 13, a member of the NTN Navy Elite swim club, had completed an early-morning workout at the Carroll Independent School District Aquatics Center when a teammate noticed her in trouble in the water.

Cerami Family
Elise Cerami, 13, drowned following a swim team workout at the Carroll Independent School District Aquatics Center June 20, 2016.

Cerami was unresponsive when she was pulled from the pool; her coaches immediately called 911 while performing CPR to try resuscitate her.

An ambulance transported Cerami to Baylor Medical Center Grapevine, though she was eventually transferred to Cook Children's Medical Center in Fort Worth where she later died.

The Tarrant County Medical Examiner's Office said Cerami accidentally drowned, but the circumstances that led to the experienced swimmer's death remain a mystery.

Julie Thannum, a spokeswoman for the Carroll ISD, said coach Bill Christensen performed CPR on the teen, and he later had heart attack-like symptoms and underwent surgery. He's recovering at a hospital.

Cerami's family has organized a Celebration of Life community memorial to be held at 6 p.m. Thursday at the Carroll Senior High School auditorium. The student-focused event is expected to last about two hours.

"Several of Elise's teachers, coaches and friends will be speaking at this service, which is a good service option for students and their parents who want to remember Elise," Thannum said.

On behalf of the Cerami family, the district said a wake and viewing will be held from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday for close family friends at Bluebonnet Hills in Colleyville. A funeral mass is planned for 10 a.m. Saturday at Colleyville's Good Shepherd Catholic Church. Space will be limited at both the wake and mass.

A 13-year-old girl dies after being found unresponsive Monday in the Carroll Independent School District Aquatics Center pool, officials say.

The family has asked that guests take no video or photos at any of the services and that the media not be present.

"The Cerami family has asked that donations in memory of Elise go toward a future scholarship. Checks may be made out to Carroll ISD with 'Elise Cerami Memorial' in the subject line," Thannum said in a statement. "Memorial donations may be brought in person to the community service for students, dropped off at the Carroll Administration Center or mailed to CISD at 2400 N. Carroll Avenue, Southlake, TX 76092."

In a statement released earlier in the week, Thannum said on behalf of the district, "We are deeply saddened to hear of Elise's passing and ask that you pray for her family, friends and fellow NTN team members."

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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