BURBANK, Calif. -- Some parents and students said they were upset with the way physical education teachers handled the collapse of a sixth-grade boy who died later in the day on Thursday.

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The 11-year-old boy, Austin Cook, became dizzy and collapsed during his physical education course while running laps at John Muir Elementary School. He was treated by paramedics and underwent surgery at a hospital, but died later in the day.

Complaining parents said the other children who were running with Cook were told to continue running around him, as he lay waiting for paramedics. They believe it was insensitive to compel the other children to continue running after they witnessed their schoolmate's collapse. One child told KNBC that she felt the supervising physical education instructors were also insensitive to Cook when he slowed down prior to his collapse.

Video: Parents Complain

Video: Principal Comments

But the school said they were not insensitive and that once the paramedics arrived, the other children were led away from the scene.

Joel Shapiro, deputy superintendent with the Burbank Unified School District, told the LA Daily News, "It's a tragedy for anyone, and it's particularly a tragedy at a school community when someone of this age passes away. Our deepest condolences are with the family."

Shapiro told the newspaper that the boy had not complained of any pain before collapsing, and the school has nothing in the student's health record indicative of any heart problems. A coroner's examination was pending to determine the exact cause of death.

The boy was initially conscious and complaining of chest pain, Shapiro told the newspaper. He lost consciousness again, until paramedics arrived and he regained consciousness briefly, the newspaper said. He said the boy underwent surgery at the hospital but was pronounced dead about 2 p.m.