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Alabama A&M linebacker Medrick Burnett Jr. "remains alive" after his school had previously announced his death.
The Alabama A&M athletic department issued a retraction Wednesday (November 27) evening, obtained by the Associated Press, confirming that Burnett was still hospitalized in "stable condition" in relation to a head injury that took place in the Bulldogs' October 26 game against Alabama State. The school claimed the initial report of Burnett's death came “from an immediate family member on Tuesday evening" in its retraction.
“Our staff acted accordingly to the wishes of the family member to inform the A&M community and beyond of this unfortunate occurrence,” the retraction statement reads. “Upon hearing from a representative from UAB Hospital this afternoon, we learned that he remains alive.
“We express our immediate regret for disseminating false information. However, we hold complete joy in knowing that Medrick remains in stable condition.”
A GoFundMe page launched to help pay for Burnett's medical expenses shared an update Wednesday that said "he is having a tough time but we are holding on til the very end. God give us strength so we can keep the faith. Burnett, a redshirt freshman, transferred to Alabama A&M from Grambling State this past summer and recorded five tackles in seven appearances.