Cohen Craddock Obituary, Death; – A tragic incident occurred in West Virginia on Saturday, resulting in the death of an eighth grader due to injuries sustained during football practice, just three days after the commencement of the school year.
Cohen Craddock, a 13-year-old student at Madison Middle School, suffered a head injury while practicing with his team, the Redhawks, on Friday. He was subsequently taken to a hospital, where he sadly passed away the next day, as reported by the Boone County Ambulance Authority.
Ryan Craddock, Cohen’s father, shared with NBC News on Tuesday that his son had collided with other players, leading to a fall that caused him to hit his head.
“This incident resulted in brain swelling, which initiated a series of complications that ultimately led to his death,” Craddock explained.
In the wake of this tragedy, Craddock is advocating for improved safety measures for young athletes and is encouraging his son’s teammates to utilize Guardian Caps—described as “impact reducing soft-shell helmet covers” that provide an additional layer of protection for the head.
“I believe that with the Guardian Cap, the outcome could have been different,” Craddock stated. “My goal is to protect as many children as possible, starting at the county level, and if feasible, extending this initiative to the state or national level to promote the use of Guardian Caps during practice or beyond.”
He mentioned that he has been in communication with the founders of Guardian Caps, who are supportive of his efforts.
“My hope is that if this initiative can prevent even one family from experiencing the pain that my family is currently enduring, it will be worthwhile,” Craddock expressed. “I am certain that Cohen would support this cause, and he would not want me to hesitate in taking action.”
