An 18-year-old freshman died early Friday morning of an apparent asthma attack, University Police said.

Eric Lynn Richardson, of Vernon Hills, collapsed while walking with two other students across a parking lot near Grant South, his residence hall, said Donald Buckner, NIU associate vice president for Student Affairs.

The students were returning from a gathering at an off-campus apartment, Buckner said.

Richardson’s friends at the time called for assistance with a campus telephone call box at 11:57 p.m. Thursday and police responded in less than a minute, Buckner said.

On arrival, Richardson had a pulse but was not breathing, police said. UPs attempted to resuscitate Richardson until DeKalb Fire Department paramedics arrived and transported him to Kishwaukee Community Hospital.

The DeKalb County Coroner’s office said Richardson was pronounced dead at the hospital at 12:58 a.m. Friday. An autopsy report will be finalized early this week. UPs also are investigating the incident.

UP Lt. Albert Ekstrom said this is the first time the call boxes were used in a major emergency. He said they have been used before, but usually for minor incidents like stalled cars.

“With a medical emergency, you never know how it’s going to go,” Ekstrom said. “As soon as that call is placed, one of our squads is sent out to the location.”