Alabama A&M linebacker Medrick Burnett Jr., whose death a month after a collision mid-game was reported Wednesday, is actually still alive and in stable condition at a hospital, school officials said.
Burnett was injured when he and another player crashed head-on during the Oct. 26 Magic City Classic against rival Alabama State — the day before his 20th birthday. News of his supposed death Wednesday spread rapidly after Alabama A&M University’s athletic department posted an announcement. Hours later, however, the school retracted that statement, saying “an immediate family member” had told them he had died.
“Our staff acted accordingly to the wishes of the family member to inform the A&M community and beyond of this unfortunate occurrence,” A&M said. “Upon hearing from a representative from UAB hospital this afternoon, we learned that he remains alive. We express our immediate regret for disseminating false information, however we hold complete joy in knowing that Medrick remains in stable condition.”
TMZ first reported the redshirt player was still fighting for his life in the hospital. The family confirmed as much in an online funding drive to raise money for far-flung family members, including his parents, to stay near the hospital.
“He had several brain bleeds and swelling of the brain,” his sister, who organized the funding drive, said in a post. “He had to have a tube to drain to relieve the pressure, and after 2 days of severe pressure, we had to opt for a craniotomy, which was the last resort to help try to save his life.”
The drive had raised nearly $33,000 of a $100,000 goal by Wednesday evening. The family did not comment publicly about the erroneous report.
“When the time comes, we will issue a statement about what we have been through,” the player’s mother, Denise Burnett, told WAFF-TV.
Burnett, a freshman from Lakewood, Calif., joined the Alabama A&M team over the summer after transferring from Grambling State. Three of the five tackles he made during seven games were against Austin Peay State University.
With News Wire Services
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