Promising schoolboy, 17, who lives on millionaire island killed in lacrosse accident despite wearing helmet

By SOPHIA BAUM - FEMAIL REPORTER, INTERN Published: 17:15, 9 June 2026 | Updated: 17:25, 9 June 2026 A student lacrosse star, was fatally injured in a freak accident whilst wearing his helmet, after a ball struck him on the back of the neck during a match.  Eliot Abramson, a 17-year-old high school sophomore at Mercer Island High School in Seattle, was pronounced dead on June 7, after being struck in the back of the neck by a ball during a recruiting showcase on June 1.  Abramson is being remembered as a team player with a magnetic smile and love of his sport. 'A midfielder who’d been playing the sport since he could walk,' According to his mother Jessica Abramson. Listed at six feet, two inches tall, Abramson was expected to graduate in 2028.  Abramson was taking part in a collage recruiting showcase, participating in a competitive circuit of events, that could have changed his life for the better, opening the door to collage scouts and a future in the sport he loved and excelled in. The talented teenage athlete had been performing on the field in front of coaches and scouts, when a lacrosse ball struck him in the back of the neck, slipping just below the base of his helmet in a split-second moment that would alter everything. According to the Mercer Report, witnesses watched in horror, as Abramson immediately collapsed on the field, losing consciousness moments after the impact, triggering a frantic emergency response as medics assembled and rushed onto the pitch. Eliot Abramson, a 17-year-old high school sophomore has been pronounced dead on June 7, after  being struck in the back of the neck by a ball during a lacrosse showcase on June 1 He was then taken to Harbourview medical center in Seattle where he remained hospitalized in critical condition for a week, as family friends and classmates clung desperately to any hope of recovery. According to an Instagram letter posted by the teenager's mother - Jessica Abramson-Lott and signed by stepfather Jeremy Lott and their five other children, a firefighter 'kept Eliot’s heart beating' before he was swiftly transferred to Harborview Medical Center for surgery. However, on Saturday, hope of recovery promptly ended, when school officials confirmed the sophomore's death from 'injuries too severe to describe'.  'It is with heartbreaking sadness we share devastating news about sophomore Eliot Abramson,' A letter addressed to the community said of the student-athlete. 'As shared by his family, Eliot’s injuries were too severe to survive and he passed away Sunday morning surrounded by his family,' the letter stated. The school described Elliot as a 'beloved student', 'whose smile could light up a room'. Administrators urged peers and residents to 'Keep Elliot's friends, family and all lives he touched' in their thoughts.  In the days following his death, friends and family have taken to social media with tributes, remembering him as fiercely competitive on court whilst endlessly kind off it. A rising star, Washington's Mercer Island has taken to social media to grieve together, sharing gushing tributes of Abramson For Abramson's family, the young boy's death comes as a horrific second loss as Abramson's father, Josef (Joey) Abramson passed away age 44 from cancer, Abramson was three at the time. 'While Eliot’s time on earth will end way too soon, we are comforted that he will be in heaven with his dad, making him laugh, playing music with his smile lighting up the room. We’re sure he’ll be doing ‘wall ball’ in the sky and rooting for all his friends.' States an Instagram post by Abramson's mother. Many lacrosse organizations also flocked to share their support and condolences in the comment section on the post. 'We’re heartbroken to hear this news,' Lacrosse Network commented. “We’re thinking of Eliot, your family, and the Mercer Island Lacrosse community.” His mother later revealed that he had recently had made the decision to become an organ donor - a choice, his loved ones said reflected the generous person he was.  'We are proud of this decision and the fact that he will be saving many lives.' She said. Abramson's death has also reignited concerns over player safety in lacrosse, particularly injuries involving the neck and base of the skull where standard helmets offer limited protection. It's not the first fatal incident of it's kind. His death marks at least the second time in the past year a high school student has died from a lacrosse injury. Last year, Ohio high school player Dylan Veselic died after suffering a fatal head injury during a varsity lacrosse game, renewing scrutiny over equipment standards and the risks posed by high speed impacts in one of America's fastest growing youth sports.  No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. 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