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http://www.omniture.com --> Sections Home Page Local News AP News Archives Business Classifieds Event Calendar Forums Life Opinion Obituaries Photo Gallery Since We Asked Sports Tempo Weather Special Coverage 2006 Britt Festivals --> Shop Our Valley AutoFinder HomeFinder JobFinder Search Our Valley Special Sections Homelife Magazine Joy Magazine Readers Choice 2006 Oregon Golf Info Oregon Wine Info Our Valley Other Publications Local Links Ashland News eSouthernOregon Newspapers In Education Personals Moving Here Movie Listings TV Listings Volunteer Customer Service Advertise With Us Media Kit Place Classified Ad Contact Us FAQ's Home Delivery Site Map --> Email Story to a Friend May 27, 2006 'Choking game' may have killed Eagle Point boy By Paris Achen Mail Tribune An 11-year-old Eagle Point boy died late Thursday apparently from a failed attempt at thrill asphyxiation, according to Eagle Point police. The boy, a sixth-grader at Eagle Point Middle School, was hanging by a bandana fastened around his neck and attached to a towel ring in the bathroom of his family home when his mother found him at about 8:30 p.m. Thursday, said Eagle Point Police Chief David Strand. Jackson County sheriff's Detective Sgt. Colin Fagan cautioned Friday that the case is still under investigation and the cause of death has not been confirmed. But the death appears to be consistent with a dangerous adolescent fad of using self-asphyxiation to achieve a high, Strand said. "When we conducted the investigation, it was clear it wasn't a suicide," he said. "This boy got the information about thrill asphyxiation from his friends at school." Police notified staff at Eagle Point Middle School early Friday of the boy's death. Additional counselors and psychologists went to the school to provide grief counseling to students and teachers. "This has definitely not been a good day at Eagle Point Middle School, but we are going to get through it," Principal Wayne Gallagher said Friday. The boy was a good student and well-liked, said Katherine Leppek, an Eagle Rock Elementary School teacher who had him as a student in fourth grade. "He was a shining star and an all-around wonderful student who cared about others," she said, "and he'll be deeply missed." School officials said they plan to work with emergency agencies and school counselors to come up with a program to educate students about the dangers of thrill asphyxiation before the end of the school year. It is unknown how many children across the nation have died from the practice, sometimes called the "choking game," as deaths are sometimes reported as suicides. However, the number of victims could be as high as 1,000 per year, according to Deadly Games Children Play, a group that seeks to increase awareness about thrill asphyxiation and other dangerous childhood practices. Thrill asphyxiation involves constricting the neck to restrict the body's blood and oxygen supplies, often until the participant faints. When the participant awakens seconds later, the blood rushes back to his brain, giving him a high. Adolescents practice thrill asphyxiation together or alone, Strand said. "When they pass out, they are usually in a position where the ligature no longer restricts their blood flow, and as they become conscious again, they get a rush," Strand said. "In this particular case, he didn't get out of the noose." Reach reporter Paris Achen by calling 776-4459 or [email protected] . Advertisement s Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2006 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback online casinos news Home Security Systems California Casinos Men's Clothing Southern Oregon Loans --> GMAT Prep Fundraisers Send Flowers Entertainment Guide --> Casinos Canada Trunks, Footlocker Online Casino Reviews