9-year-old NYC boy chokes in school cafeteria (AP)

NEW YORK ? Family members and a witness say a New York City fourth grader choked on meatballs during lunch while school cafeteria workers stood by. The boy later died.

The New York Post ( http://nyp.st/td2pmw) reported Saturday that 9-year-old Jonathan Jewth fell to the ground during lunch Dec. 5 at Public School 47 in the Bronx. He was unconscious before help arrived.

A parent at the school, Andrea Perez, told the newspaper she saw the boy choking but cafeteria workers did nothing. She said at one point they yelled at him to put his fingers down his throat. Jonathan's family says he suffered brain damage and died Monday.

Schools Chancellor Dennis Walcott says his death was a tragedy. Education officials haven't responded to requests for comment about the family's and Perez's account.

___

Information from: New York Post, http://www.nypost.com

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/education/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111218/ap_on_re_us/us_school_lunch_death

widespread panic richard stallman richard stallman williston north dakota williston north dakota kody brown transylvania