SARTELL, Minn. — A seventh-grader from central Minnesota was declared brain dead Wednesday after suffering a severe head injury despite wearing a helmet during a weekend bike crash.
The family made the decision to take Raghav Shrestha, 12, off life support on Wednesday afternoon, Sartell Police Chief Brandon Silgjord said.
Silgjord went to Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis to check on Raghav’s condition earlier Wednesday.
“We know that we speak for our entire community when we say that our hearts are broken for Raghav’s parents, brother and entire family,” Silgjord said in a news release. “The Shrestha family wanted it shared that they are deeply appreciative of the community’s support and everyone that rallied behind them in their time of need.”
Raghav’s dream was to become a police officer, and “several of us involved in the incident were able to visit Raghav this morning, and in the presence of his family pin him with his own badge and swear him in as an honorary police officer with Sartell,” Silgjord said.
Sartell police said that officers responded to a report that Raghav had crashed his bike near the bottom of the hill, often referred to as “Muskie Hill” at Northside Park, on Sunday afternoon.
The incident did not have any eyewitnesses, but law enforcement believe Raghav likely lost control or something caused him to flip over at the bottom of the hill, Siljord said.
After the crash, his injuries appeared to cause cardiac arrest, according to police. A good Samaritan — whom Silgjord identified as Gary Wassen — administered CPR until first responders arrived. Law enforcement also said multiple citizens stepped in to help provide aid following the incident. Wassen is a founder and instructor with Heart Vital CPR, an organization he started with his wife, Zette, in 2014 to offer first aid and life support training classes.
Raghav was taken to the St. Cloud Hospital, where he regained vital signs before being flown to Minneapolis. He was treated in the pediatric intensive care unit at HCMC. On Tuesday, the police department said that his parents had been at his bedside the past two days and had asked for prayers for their son.
A fundraising campaign set up on behalf of the Shrestha family to help with medical costs described the seventh grader as a “fun-loving, adventurous 12-year-old.”
“His parents, while grieving the loss of their son, also wanted it known that more than anything they are proud to be Raghav’s parents and to have raised and known a boy that was always courageous in his words and actions,” Silgjord said. “Choosing to never cause harm to people and animals alike and taking the most pride in his role as a big brother.”
Raghav attended Sartell-St. Stephen Middle School, which is braced for the impact of his passing.
“We want the community to know that our hearts go out to Raghav, his family, his friends and everyone close to him,” Sartell-St. Stephen Superintendent Mike Rivard told St. Cloud LIVE. “They will be in our thoughts and prayers.”
There will be extra resources for Sartell-St. Stephen Middle School students and staff looking for support this week and later as needed, Rivard said.
He added that he is proud of the community’s response to the tragedy.
“It is remarkable how quickly the Sartell-St. Stephen community wrapped its arms around Raghav’s family,” Rivard said. “We’re being as caring as possible.”
Related Articles
Daniel Rosen to serve as next U.S. attorney for Minnesota
Tony Lazzaro, Minnesota GOP donor likened to Jeffrey Epstein, loses at Supreme Court
Impaired driving suspected in deadly crash of rural Minnesota fire truck
Massive Duluth freeway project wrapping up this month
‘The Untold Story’ of the crew of the Edmund Fitzgerald told in new book
Leave a Reply