LAKE OSWEGO, Ore. -- A fifth-grade student died Tuesday after being hit with a football during recess at his school.

Austin Sergeev was playing flag football at Palisades Elementary School in Lake Oswego when the accident occurred, according to witnesses. School officials said he tried to block a punt when the football hit him.

According to the state medical examiner's office, Sergeev died from blunt force trauma to the chest and cardiac arrest. Dr. Christopher Young, a deputy state medical examiner, said the football traveled only a few feet before hitting Sergeev in the chest.

"They were just playing football -- it was caught in the wrong spot and his friend went down," said Kathie Amuro, whose son was on the field at the time.

A teacher on the field used a walkie-talkie to call for help and parent volunteer Benjamin Crofut said paramedics responded immediately. Emergency crews performed CPR on Sergeev for more than 20 minutes.

Lake Oswego fire officials said crews then took him to Legacy Meridian Park Hospital. Efforts to save Sergeev's life were unsuccessful and he died at the hospital, according to the fire department.

Amuro said the death has already been difficult for her son.

"He's shocked," Amuro said. "They're at school playing a game and he's told his friend is dead. It's horrible. I don't know if he can even grasp what that means."

School administrators sent an e-mail to parents Tuesday afternoon that said the students were not told about the incident. The school opted to allow parents to discuss the death with their child before school officials and teachers address the accident Wednesday.

Crofut said it will be tough to hold back tears when he tells his son about Sergeev's death.

"Be grateful for every moment that you're here, because life can change real fast as we found out here today," he said.