Community Mourns Loss of Young Football Player

A small community in Alabama is heartbroken after a tragic incident during a high school football practice.

On August 13, 14-year-old Semaj Wilkins, a freshman at New Brockton High School, collapsed while warming up with his teammates. This happened around 4:30 p.m., when he suffered what officials are calling a ‘medical emergency.’

Fortunately, help arrived quickly. CPR was administered right on the field, and emergency responders were there in just minutes. Semaj was rushed to the Medical Center Enterprise but sadly was pronounced dead upon arrival.

Arnold Woodham, the Coffee County Coroner, shared how shocking this event has been for the community, stating, ‘It’s dealt a real blow to this small community.’ He went on to say that he has never seen anything like this in his entire life.

In a heartfelt statement, Kelly Cobb, the Coffee County Schools Superintendent, remembered Semaj as a young man who inspired joy in everyone around him. He said, ‘His loss will be deeply felt by everyone who knew him.’

Right now, the cause of Semaj’s death is still a mystery. His body has been sent to the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences for an autopsy, but it might be weeks before any results come back.

Additionally, the Coffee County Sheriff’s Department is looking into the circumstances surrounding his death. It’s worth noting that on the day Semaj collapsed, temperatures reached 96 degrees with a heat index hitting 100.

In honor of Semaj, the local community has organized a vigil at the football stadium on the night of August 16, where friends and family will come together to remember him.