Chicago area high school football player dies after game

A high school football player in Illinois has died after suffering injuries during a game. He was taken to the hospital on Thursday night but passed away Friday morning.

The medical examiner in Cook County is planning an autopsy this week to find out Smith’s exact cause of death.

His death comes a little more than a year after Shoreham-Wading River’s Tom Cutinella died October 1, 2014, after being injured in a game at Glenn High School.

“It was a kick return play”, said Jimmy Smith, the announcer at Stagg Stadium.

Paramedic Garret Weston told the Sun-Times he was preparing to leave the stadium when he was summoned to aid Smith. He was breathing at the time, but not conscious, according to fire officials. “I checked his vitals and gave him oxygen”.

Andre Smith, 17, a senior at a Chicago high school, walked off the field after a collision.

“This is an eye opener to all football players on all levels”, said Erick Smith, Andre’s brother. The student added that he was “really hurt” about Smith’s loss and that “it’s just unfortunate for [Smith] to pass doing something he really loved doing”. “His smile was just ideal”. He added grief counselors are at Bogan to provide counseling for students. “We ask that you respect the privacy of the student’s family and keep them in your thoughts and prayers”.