A 14-year-old high school football player died in Alabama this week after collapsing during a sweltering practice.
That player has been identified by Coffee County Coroner Arnold Woodham as Semaj Wilkins, according to WDHN.com. The local school has since confirmed his identity as the New Brockton High School freshman.
‘I am asking the community to continue to be in prayer for his family, his teammates, his coaches, and all affected by the tragic loss of Mr. Wilkins,’ Woodham said in a statement.
As Woodham told WDHN, Wilkins suffered a medical emergency at around 4:30pm on Tuesday, when the area was under a level-3 heat risk, which is considered high. Temperatures in the area were around 100 degrees at 4pm according to the local station.
Players defended the school’s heat protocol while speaking to WDHN.
The has been identified by the Coffee County Coroner as Semaj Wilkins (pictured)
Woodman was a 14-year-old freshman at New Brockton High School in Alabama
The school has made a crisis response team available to students. That team includes pastors and counsellors.
‘Our hearts are broken for the family’s loss, and our prayers are with them as they mourn,’ Coffee County School said in a statement
The local DA’s office and Sheriff’s department are both investigating the death.
‘This is a very emotional time for the family and emergency responders involved,’ said coroner Woodham. ‘Please respect and pray for the family during this difficult time.’
U.S. Representative and Coffee County native Barry Moore shared his grief with other members of the community on social media.
‘[My wife] Heather and I are praying for our friends in New Brockton after the passing of a young football player this afternoon,’ said Moore said.
More information is expected to come available in the near future.
A GoFundMe.com page has been set up to help pay Wilkins’ funeral.
If Wilkins’ death is blamed on the heat, he would be only the latest football player to suffer that fate.
According to The National Center for Catastrophic Sport Injury Research, 157 football players have died from exertional heat strokes since 1960.
