Alabama A&M football player still alive after head injury; The school retracts its statement about his death

It’s an astonishing development that an Alabama A&M football player whose death was announced by the school is still alive and on life support. The statement was quickly retracted

Medrick Burnett Jr. was injured in a head-to-head collision during the Bulldogs’ game against Alabama State on Oct. 29. As his sister explained in a GoFundMe set up to help her parents care for him, his condition is serious.

The Alabama A&M athletic department was apparently incorrectly informed by “an immediate family member” – reportedly Burnett’s father, according to Fox54 in Huntsville, Alabama – that his son had died.

The school subsequently released a statement regarding Burnett Jr.’s death (via Associated Press).

However, after Burnett Jr.’s mother and a UAB Hospital representative learned he was still alive, the athletic department issued a retraction (via Fox54).

The original statement has been removed from Alabama A&M’s athletics website and social media.

Burnett Jr., 20, is a redshirt freshman linebacker from Lakewood, Calif., who began playing for Alabama A&M this season after transferring from Grambling State. He played in seven games this year and recorded five tackles.

“Please pray that this is difficult for him, but we will hold on until the end,” Dominece, Burnett Jr.’s sister, posted on the GoFundMe page on Wednesday. “God give us strength so that we can keep the faith.”