WICHITA, Kan. -- The high school pole vaulter who died two days after falling 12 feet in a weekend competition was being photographed at the time by his father.

Samoa Fili II, a 17-year-old senior at Wichita Southeast High School, died Monday of head injuries. He was the second student vaulter to die this year.

The elder Fili said he immediately ran to his son, who was taken by ambulance to the hospital.

"I just held him in my arms and told him I loved him," Fili said. "But he never answered."

The father was photographing his son during the Wichita East Relays.

"He planted the pole and went up, but he went up at an angle," Fili said. "I could tell he tried to stop it, but he was just going too fast and too strong."

His son's body hit the back side of the mat, but the back of his head hit the pavement on the edge of the mat. He was immediately knocked unconscious.

"Something happened with his form," Fili said. "He let go and hit the crossbar, but his momentum just carried him farther."

The Wichita school district is reviewing the accident, spokeswoman Susan Arensman said. She said the pole vault pit and mat met state guidelines.

The National Center for Catastrophic Sports Injury Research recently reported 15 fatal pole vaulting accidents occurred at American high schools from 1983 to 2000. Seven other accidents resulted in permanent disabilities.

Penn State vaulter Kevin Dare died in February during the Big Ten indoor meet in Minneapolis. Dare fell headfirst and was killed using an unfamiliar size pole.

Dare's death prompted a bill in New York state to require helmets for high school and college pole vaulters. The measure is pending.

There is no timeline for completing the Wichita investigation, Arensman said. Other scheduled competitions will continue.

Samoa Fili II had competed in the pole vault for two years, finishing third at last year's City League meet.

"He's never been hurt before," his father said.

Since the accident, Fili's father and mother, Gwyn, had kept a vigil at the hospital along with friends and relatives. Fili was the second-youngest among six children.

He carried a 3.7 grade-point average at Southeast and was twice named Student of the Month.

"He was so thoughtful and polite," principal Barb Mohney said. "Everyone liked him. Not only was he a great student, he was a great person."