High school football player in New York dies after head injury

A New York high school football player died after sustaining a head injury during a game, according to a report from The Associated Press reported.

Carthage High School freshman Tyler Christman, 14, was injured during his junior varsity game against West Genesee High School on Saturday. 

Christman’s father, Jason, shared on Tuesday the tragic news of his son’s death. 

“We all prayed for a miracle to happen for you to be saved. Sadly, the damage was just too much,” Christman wrote. 

“You will always be our hero and soon you will be a hero to the people that receive your life saving organ donations and a hero to all the family members who have spent many sleepless nights praying for their miracle.”

Christman’s father described the boy as a “‘WATCH ME'” kind of kid.” 

“And boy have we always loved watching you. Even though you made our hearts pound out of our chests at certain times. We loved watching you around your friends and teammates,” Jason Christman continued. 

Tyler Christman is survived by his brothers Zack and Dylan, as well as his parents, according to Jason Christman. 

On Monday, members of the Carthage community came out in support of Christman, wearing red shirts in support for the now-deceased player. 

Christman’s death follows other high school athletes who have died in recent months, according to the AP. 

Dale Martin, 18,  died after sustaining a head injury during a game in April and Ivan Hicks, 16, and Jack Alkhatib, 17, died after collapsing during their team practices two months apart.

The University of North Carolina’s National Center for Catastrophic Sport Injury Research tracked 14 middle and high school football-related deaths in 2019, the AP noted.