Third death of US teen in a week renews focus on football's lethal potential

A 16-year-old student playing the game died Thursday, following the deaths of two 17-year-olds earlier in the week

Peter Walker in London and Jessica Glenza in New York

The Guardian, Friday 3 October 2014 13.03 EDT

The death of a 16-year-old American high school football player, the third teenager in a week to die from injuries sustained in a game, has placed renewed focus on the sport’s potential for lethal and disabling injury.

Tom Cutinella, a guard and linebacker for Shoreham-Wading River High School in Shoreham, New York, died from a head injury caused by a heavy collision while blocking opponents during a game on Wednesday night, school officials said.

On Sunday an Alabama high school footballer, 17-year-old Demario Harris Jr, was pronounced dead three days after collapsing during a game. He is believed to have suffered a brain aneurysm shortly after making a tackle.

On the same night another player, 17-year-old, Isaiah Langston, collapsed during a warm-up before playing for Rolesville High School in North Carolina. He was pronounced dead on Monday.

(More here.)