An Alabama high school football player died at the age of 16 after suffering a head injury during a game.
Caden Tellier, a junior quarterback for John T. Morgan Academy, suffered a hit to the head following a tackle during the third quarter of his team’s game against Southern Academy in Selma, Ala.
He was transported to University of Alabama Birmingham Hospital by helicopter, but died of his injuries later in the evening.
“Our boy, Caden Tellier, has met Jesus face to face,” his family said in a statement on social media. “We appreciate all of your prayers and we covet them for the hard days ahead.
“Everyone who knows Caden has known kindness, generosity and love, and true to his nature, he is giving of himself one more time. Lives have been touched by the way he lived and now lives will be saved through his passing. We will walk out these next few days alongside him in his earthly body knowing that his spirit is rejoicing in heaven.”
According to TMZ, Tellier had 1,228 passing yards and seven touchdowns last season. He also played baseball for the school.
“There are no words to describe how we feel as a school community and family,” school officials said in a statement. “He was a student, a friend, an athlete, and most important a Christ follower.”
The school has suspended all activities this week, including a football game scheduled for Friday.
According to the Daily Mail, Tellier’s death was the second fatal incident on a football field across south Alabama and fourth across the United States this month.
A GoFundMe page was launched to help the family during this tragic time and had raised more than $85,000 US as of Monday afternoon with a goal of $100,000.
“One way we can minister to the Tellier family as they grieve this tragedy is to cover all of their many medical, life, flight, and funeral expenses and time out of work,” the page says.
“Thank you for loving on this family as they walk this difficult road. Live like Caden.”
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