Alabama A&M University officials have been forced to retract the news announcing the death of an injured athlete and apologize for the faux pas.
“Upon hearing from a representative from UAB hospital this afternoon, we learned that he remains alive,” said Alabama A&M. “We express our immediate regret for disseminating false information however, we hold complete joy in knowing that Medrick remains in stable condition.”
In what it called an “unfortunate occurrence,” the school said in a since-deleted announcement online that the 20-year-old athlete had died after it was “originally advised by an immediate family member on Tuesday evening.
Twenty-year-old footballer Medrick Burnett Jr., a California native, played in seven games for the university before an accident tragically cut his football career short.
In late October during a game against Alabama State, he suffered a severe head injury during a collision, resulting in brain bleeds and swelling. “He had to have a tube to drain to relieve the pressure, and after 2 days of severe pressure, we had to opt for a craniotomy, which was the last resort to help try to save his life,” said Burnette’s sister Denise.
In an online fundraiser, his family confirmed that Burnett had several brain bleeds and swelling and that the athlete remains in the hospital.