USC freshman dies after passing out in her dorm room

An 18-year-old USC freshman has died after passing out in her dorm room, authorities said Tuesday.

The cause of death of the student, Rachel Victoria Kim, 18, of Brookville, Md., had not yet been determined, said Capt. John Kades of the Los Angeles County coroner's office.

Officers responded to a call on Nov. 24 about 8:40 p.m. of a student not breathing in a room at Pardee Tower, a residential hall, said Capt. David Carlisle of the USC Department of Public Safety.

Officers found Kim unresponsive and not breathing. Paramedics administered first aid and took her to California Hospital, where they were unable to revive her, Carlisle said.

Michael L. Jackson, the vice president for student affairs at USC, sent an e-mail to residents of the dormitory expressing sympathy and prayers to Kim’s family and friends.

“We know that this tragedy will weigh heavily on our community and please know that we want to support all of you,” Jackson said in the statement.

Counseling was made available for students Monday; those needing immediate support were urged to call Department of Public Safety dispatch at (213) 740-6000 to speak to a counselor, USC officials said.

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-- Stephen Ceasar

Comments

[John]

Nobody knew/administered CPR to this poor girl before paramedics arrived? Sad.

[Veronica]

May God give the young girl's family strength to make it through this.

Lisa Byers gives USC a bad name. Such a shameful representation of a great school.

[BARRERAS]

Lisa B- Why do you assume that the person that provided the drugs is not here legally. No where on this report does it say that it was because of drugs and if it was she was a big girl that knew right from wrong.

[Tom]

@Lisa Byers I'm sure students at USC are smart enough to know what drugs are bad and dangerous. With that said, if a person chokes on a chicken bone and dies, do you go sue Farmer John? Think before you respond. Thanks.

[Alex S.]

Uhh ok it doesn't sound like drugs and CPR isn't going to do anything. In fact it sounds like she had a DVT, perhaps from birth control and/or smoking or some kind of congenital heart defect. Young kids don't just "drop dead" like that.

[freshmen in college]

why do these stories come out like a week after the actual event happens? it says that the girl died on the 24th but regardless; still a sad story. RIP

[Joey]

this is horrible. I didn't know fan death existed in America too! My heart goes out to her family.

[Porkchop]

CPR doesn't magically bring people back to life, all it does is pump oxygenated blood through the body and organs until the paramedics arrive. You have to electrically shock the heart to get it going again.