A high school student in Kentucky died Monday after what has been described as a “not a violent” football game tackle by the teen’s father.
“No words can explain, justify or rationalize tragedies such as these. We only ask for peace and comfort to all around him and around our great Commonwealth,” said a statement from the Kentucky High School Athletic Association regarding Andrew Dodson’s death.
Dodson was 17, according to the New York Post, and was a junior tight end, per the Louisville Courier Journal.
In a Friday tweet, Pulaski County High School’s Maroons Baseball team Twitter posted a request for prayers related to Dodson, who attended the school. He suffered a head injury during the “Maroon Vs White Football scrimmage,” it said.
“It was not a violent hit or helmet-to-helmet. It was a simple, clean tackle,” said Dodson’s father, Alan – a well-known pastor in Kentucky – of the incident according to the Lexington Herald-Leader. He also said his son was wearing a helmet.
According to Johns-Hopkins Medicine, “head injuries are one of the most common causes of disability and death in adults,” and can be caused by something “as mild as a bump, bruise (contusion), or cut on the head, or can be moderate to severe in nature due to a concussion, deep cut or open wound, fractured skull bone(s), or from internal bleeding and damage to the brain.”
“His head hit the turf, and Andrew suffered blunt-force trauma to the brain,” his father said Sunday night. “He had a major surgery to relieve the pressure and has never awakened. He has been fight(ing) for his life on total life support.”
A campaign called Prayers for Andrew began spreading across the state this weekend, said the Lexington Herald-Leger.
Those who play contact sports such as football are at risk for head injuries and a disorder called chronic traumatic encephalopathy, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. In 2016, the National Football League acknowledged the link between the sport and CTE, CNN Health reported. The following year, “the largest study of its kind has found damage in the vast majority of former football players’ brains donated for research after they developed mental symptoms during life,” said the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
Since Dodson’s passing, the Pulaski County community has been mourning the young athlete, according to the Commonwealth Journal.
“He was a great kid. He was always upbeat, very positive, and a kid with great character,” longtime Pulaski County High School football coach Johnny Hines said, per the outlet.
“Pulaski County is experiencing an extreme sadness. Any loss of life at such a young age is tragic, but as you can see from the outpouring of love from so many here in Pulaski County and beyond, Andrew Dodson made a huge impact on those around him. In the coming days, we must wrap his family and friends and our whole community in our prayers and our love,” said Pulaski County Judge-Executive Marshall Todd.
“Our community is hurting today with the loss of Pulaski County High School football player Andrew Dodson. Continued prayers for the Dodson family and all who loved him. Let’s stand with them as a community and pray in unison for supernatural peace and comfort,” Somerset Mayor Alan Keck said.
In a tweet, Mark Stoops, head football coach of the University of Kentucky, said “our sympathies and prayers are with the family, friends and teammates of Andrew Dodson, a member of the Pulaski County football team. We are heartbroken by this tragedy and are deeply sorry for your loss.”
Somerset Undertaking Co. and Crematory in Somerset, Ky., announced funeral arrangements for Dodson this week.
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