A day after students and community members gathered at New York's Westfield/Brocton High School in a show of support for football player Damon Janes, the 16-year-old running back succumbed to his injuries.
The high school football player died in a hospital Monday as a result of a hard hit he received during a Friday night game. According to local reports, Janes lost consciousness after a helmet-to-helmet collision during the third quarter.
The game against Portville was called off after the teen collapsed on the field.
Janes was taken to a local hospital and later transported to the Women & Children's Hospital in Buffalo, where he was listed in critical condition. In a joint statement, the hospital and his parents announced Janes' passing and expressed their gratitude "to those who have supported and prayed for Damon and his family."
School officials also released a statement on the district's website:
Our school and community is devastated by the football tragedy that occurred at the game last Friday night and we are grieving his loss. Damon was a unique, artistic, smart, athletic and friendly young man. Currently we are reaching out to support his family and friends and ask for time to mourn Damon's passing. Our strength, love and faith will pull us together to get us through this difficult time.
Since 2000, 39 high school football players have died directly due to injuries sustained while playing, according to The National Center for Catastrophic Sports Injury Research.
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