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14-year-old Alabama high school football player died of heart condition, autopsy says
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14-year-old Alabama high school football player died of heart condition, autopsy says

Cause of death of one Alabama high school football player who died after collapsing during a practice session in August has been revealed, according to the Coffee County Coroner’s Office.

Semaj Wilkins, a 14-year-old freshman at New Brockton High School, suffered a medical emergency during football practice on August 13. According to the medical examiner’s report, he collapsed and became “responsive” before being taken to an area hospital.

Football and football helmet on grid

Semaj was one of seven football-related deaths since August. (iStock)

Semaj died tragically, and on Thursday, an autopsy performed by the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences determined his cause of death was congestive heart failure due to cardiomegaly with biventricular hypertrophy, resulting from a coronary anomaly.

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Death was categorized as natural.

The Mayo Clinic website defines cardiomegaly as an enlarged heart and ventricular hypertrophy as a thickening of the heart walls. The condition can cause the heart to not pump blood efficiently.

Pads and headphones during soccer practice

Pads and headphones during soccer practice. (Jake Crandall/ Advertiser/ USA Today Network)

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“Semaj was a young man who brought joy and inspiration to his peers, teammates, coaches and faculty members. His loss will be deeply felt by all who knew him,” Coffee County Schools Commissioner Kelly Cobb wrote in a Facebook statement at the time of his passing.

Semaj was one of seven football-related deaths in August, prompting warnings from parents and others to take safety measures in the sport more seriously.

Cohen Craddock, 13, of West Virginia, Caden Tellier, 16, of Alabama, Robert James Gillon III, 15, of Florida, Javion Taylor, 15, of Virginia, Ovet Gomez-Regalado, 15, of Maryland, Semaj Wilkins, in age 14, from Alabama and Leslie Noble, age 16, from Maryland.

The middle and high school football players who died in August include Cohen Craddock, 13, of West Virginia, Caden Tellier, 16, of Alabama, Robert James Gillon III, 15, from Florida, aged 15. Javion Taylor of Virginia, Ovet Gomez-Regalado, 15, of Maryland, Semaj Wilkins, 14, of Alabama, and Leslie Noble, 16, of Maryland. (Thomas A. Ferrara/Newsday RM/ Facebook/ GoFundMe/ Selma Funeral Home)

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The circumstances of their deaths ranged from heatstroke to chest pains to head injuries.

Fox News’ Audrey Conklin and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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