Alabama high school football player died from a heart condition, autopsy finds

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NEW BROCKTON, Ala. — An autopsy has confirmed that an Alabama high school football player who collapsed during summer practice died of congestive heart failure, Coffee County Coroner Arnold Woodham announced on Thursday.

Semaj Wilkins, a 14-year-old freshman at New Brockton High School, passed away in August after collapsing at the beginning of an afternoon football practice. The Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences performed the autopsy, which revealed that Wilkins’ death was due to congestive heart failure caused by cardiomegaly with biventricular hypertrophy, stemming from a coronary anomaly. The coroner classified the death as natural.

According to the Mayo Clinic, cardiomegaly refers to an enlarged heart, while ventricular hypertrophy describes the thickening of the heart walls. These conditions can impair the heart’s ability to pump blood effectively.

“Our thoughts and prayers remain with the Wilkins family during this difficult time. We also extend our support to the faculty, students, and staff of New Brockton High School,” Woodham expressed in a statement.

New Brockton, a small town with a population of about 1,400, is located roughly 80 miles south of Montgomery.

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