NEW BROCKTON, Alabama (WTVY/Gray News) – A high school football player in Alabama died Tuesday afternoon after suffering a medical emergency during football practice.

According to Coffee County Coroner Arnold Woodham, he was identified as 14-year-old Semaj Wilkins, a first-team player and freshman at New Brockton High School.

Semaj was taken by Enterprise Rescue to Enterprise Medical Center, where he died.

“Additional details will be announced later, but I ask the community to continue to pray for his family, his teammates, his coaches and all those affected by the tragic loss of Mr. Wilkins,” Woodham said.

Coffee County Schools Superintendent Kelly Cobb said the Coffee County Sheriff’s Department and District Attorney’s Office are investigating the death and that the school district is fully cooperating with authorities.

Cobb also said a crisis intervention team will be available at the high school “to provide support to family, friends, classmates, teachers and other school staff. We are heartbroken by the family’s loss and our prayers are with them in their grief. We ask that the family’s privacy be respected during this difficult time.”

The type of exercise the ninth-grader participated in and his previous medical history were not immediately made public.

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