The parents of a 16-year-old star defensive lineman are demanding the Georgia High School Association investigate the death of their son, who never regained consciousness following a practice earlier this month.
"This was such a preventable death," said attorney Benjamin Crump, representing DJ Searcy's parents. "It never should've happened."
Searcy was participating in a "endurance test" the morning of his death, Aug. 2, Crump said. "DJ falls to the ground, cramping, and tells his coach ‘I can't go on. I can't go on.' They tell him he has to work through it."
Roughly 90 minutes after practice ended, Searcy was pronounced dead.
Ben Hill County School Superintendent Nancy Whidden said Fitzgerald High's coaches followed proper procedures, though her investigation is ongoing pending autopsy results which have not been released.
"I think [the coaches] did everything possible," Whidden told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "Our coach is a man of integrity and abides by the GHSA rules. Their own boys were on the field."
Head Football Coach Robbie Pruitt has been at Fitzgerald since 2000, with a record of 109-19-1. Requests for comment from Fitzgerald's coaching staff were directed to the superintendent.
According to Searcy's parents, their son showed signs of dehydration the evening before he died. They allege two assistant coaches discovered the 6′1, 330-pound lineman passed out in the bathroom of the Lake City, Fla. facility which the south Georgia team was using for summer practices.
"My question to the coaches is why didn't you call 911 on Monday night and notify me when he first went down unconscious and unresponsive," mother Michelle Searcy said.
Whidden said coaches she talked to were not aware Searcy passed out Monday night. DJ's parents say their son also vomited after a devotional Monday evening.
Attorney Jasmine Rand said the school's coaches broke several GHSA rules by failing to measure the heat index, failing to call 911 after Searcy went unconscious the first time -- the evening before his death -- and not providing water at practice the morning he died.
Whidden said water was provided.
DJ's father, Carlton Searcy, who trains infantrymen for the U.S. Army, said his son was pushed harder than any of the future soldiers he oversees.
"In the Army, it's real simple," he said. "If an individual passes out or is unconscious, you call 911."
GHSA executive director Ralph Swearngin said the association will consider an investigation. Typically such investigations have to be requested by the local school system.
"We would certainly be willing to have conversation on this situation," he said.
Michelle Searcy said her son was being heavily recruited by major universities. Days ago, she said, the family received a letter from Auburn University requesting a visit.
"The one time he needed [his coaches], they failed him," she said.
