Apr 18, 2008 6:47 am US/Eastern
Cheerleader Dies After Worcester Competition Stunt
BOSTON (WBZ) ―
A 20-year-old woman died a day after she was hurt during a stunt at a cheerleading competition in Worcester last weekend.
Lauren Chang, a Newton North graduate, died Monday, one day after she was injured in a performance at the Minuteman Cheerleading Championships.
According to a medical examiner, Chang suffered fatal injuries when she was kicked in the chest, leaving her with a collapsed lung.
The accident happened at the end of her co-ed team's routine.
The State Office of Public Safety has ruled her death an accident.
"It was her life. It was her life," said Kim England with Energize Athletics. "She loved cheerleading."
Chang was performing with members of the Energy Cheer team at an event that had attracted more than 60 other cheerleading teams.
Oddly enough, the team won first place trophies for the same fateful performance that killed their teammate.
"Lauren would never have wanted us to stop, and that's what we're doing for her," England said.
Chang was a "back spotter," which means she spotted and supported other cheerleaders on her team who were thrown up into the air.
(© MMVIII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
