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Wednesday, September 30, 2015 | BataviasBest.org
These are the names of three high school football players who have died during the 2015 season as a direct result of injuries suffered on the field of play.
Murray under center. (Courtesy of lehighvalleylive.com)
A star quarterback at New Jersey’s Warren Hills Regional school, Murray was hit in the backfield at the conclusion of a play this past Friday night, and although able to walk-off the field under his own power, the hit that he suffered was so severe that it lacerated his spleen – causing internal bleeding, and eventually death at a nearby hospital. Despite the fatal result, however, moments following the collision on the field Murray was seen giving a thumbs up to the fans as he was taken from the field on a gurney – leaving many in shock when they heard the news of his passing.
Hamm’s teammates carrying his jersey onto the field the game following his tragic death. (Courtesy of WCS HS Football Facebook Page)
Similarly to Murray, Ben Hamm, a Junior member of the Bartlesville Wesleyan Christian School’s football team in Oklahoma, suffered an equally-fatal hit during a game weeks prior to the Warren Hills quarterback’s unfortunate death – but did not pass away until several days after his initial injury. In fact, it took a total of 8 days for the traumatic head injury suffered by Hamm to lead to his death.
After scoring a touchdown during a September 11th game, Hamm was hit hard on the very next play on defense and collapsed immediately. He was quickly rushed to a nearby hospital, where he underwent surgery and was placed into a medically-induced coma in order to relieve pressure in the head. Despite the doctor’s best efforts, though, Hamm’s condition deteriorated over the next few days and he eventually passed away due to a lack of oxygen in his blood. Hamm died on September 19th.
Tyrell Cameron on the school bus. (Courtesy of Franklin Parrish Football Team Facebook page)
Even before Hamm’s football-related demise, a high school player at Franklin Parrish in Louisiana named Tyrell Cameron passed away following an awkward hit while on the punt team. The hit that Cameron suffered, although autopsy results have yet to be released, was said to have broken his spine – which caused his traumatic death.
In order to put these three tragic deaths in perspective, understand that there were a total of 5 players who died as a direct result to football related injuries last season. In 2015, half of that number has already been exceeded just four weeks in. To take it back even further, dating back to 1995, a total of 77 players have died as direct result of football related injuries, putting the average number per year at about 4.
The numbers are astounding to say the least, and although I adamantly defend the sport of football and everything that it provides a young athlete, one must take a step back and think if there is something that can be done to limit such fatal injuries in the future.
For Evan, Ben, and Tyrell, however, they were denied their future – and it just makes you sad to think about.
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