Girl, 10, dies after school cross-country run

A 10-year-old West Auckland girl died after collapsing during a school cross-country run yesterday.

The pupil at Freyberg Community School in Te Atatu was taken to Waitakere Hospital about 2.30pm, but died soon after being admitted.

Freyberg principal Christine Wilson said it was too early to comment on the death but the school would be open today.

A St John spokesman said an ambulance was called after it was reported that the girl had fainted during the cross-country event.

The mother of a 9-year-old classmate of the girl said her daughter had seen her friend collapse.

"She came home and said her friend had collapsed while she was doing the cross-country ... but that's all I heard."

The woman said she wasn't aware the girl had died. "I thought she was exhausted or had just fainted. That's awful."

The girl often came around to her house and "seemed like a normal, healthy girl".

Acting Senior Sergeant Eugene Pickett of the Henderson police said the pupil's death was expected to be referred to the coroner.