14-year-old Alabama high school football player dies after medical emergency

Tragedy has struck the New Brockton (Ala.) High School football program. Semaj Wilkins, 14, was warming up for practice on Tuesday when he suffered a medical emergency and died.

According to Coffee County Coroner Arnold Woodham, Wilkins was given CPR on the field, and emergency responders arrived within minutes. Wilkins was taken to nearby Medical Center Enterprise, where he was pronounced dead.

“It’s dealt a real blow to this small community,” Woodham said. “I’ve been here all my life and this is the first time I’ve seen or heard of anything like this occurring here.”

“Semaj was a young man who brought joy and inspiration to his peers, teammates, coaches, and faculty members,” Coffee County Schools Superintendent Kelly Cobb said in a statement on Facebook. “His loss will be deeply felt by everyone who knew him.”

A vigil will be held on Friday at 7 p.m. at the New Brockton High School Football Stadium to celebrate the life of Semaj and honor his mother, Regena Adams.

The team is scheduled to open up the season on August 23 at Pike Liberal Arts (Troy, Ala.).