"Protect your kids at all costs": Late high school football player Cohen Craddock's dad advocates protection gear for amateur athletes

The number of high school football players suffering injuries on the field has risen in the past few years, sometimes with tragic ends. In August alone, seven athletes from middle and high schools lost their lives during or after football-related activities, according to Fox News.

Among them was 13-year-old Cohen Craddock from West Virginia. Cohen, who was in his second year of playing football, died during practice on Aug. 23. He tripped while blocking and hit the ground, causing a fatal head injury despite wearing a helmet. His father, Robert Craddock, expressed the family's grief.

"You're in disbelief," Craddock told local TV station WSAZ. "You wish it was a bad dream you could wake up from. It's agony inside. I can't put words to. It's terrible."

Craddock is now urging parents to protect their children by advocating for safer playing conditions.

"Protect your kids at all costs," Craddock told Fox News Digital on Monday. "Whether it's stepping up, speaking to the coaches about doing different techniques, or purchase the Guardian Caps on your own, let's do everything in our power to protect our kids."

The other teenagers who lost their lives in August include 16-year-old Caden Tellier, 14-year-old Semaj Wilkins, 15-year-olds Robert James Gillon III, 15- Jayvion Taylor, 16-year-old Leslie Noble and 15-year-old Ovet Gomez-Regalado. Some of these deaths were due to heart conditions, while others were caused by injuries during play or heatstroke.

The National Center for Catastrophic Sport Injury Research reported that last year, there were 16 football-related fatalities, including nine involving middle and high school students.

Attorney Matt Wetherington's Law Firm in Georgia is offering legal support to the affected families. They have raised concerns about youth football, and are calling for better equipment, training and an increased understanding of risks posed by heat. Wetherington told Fox News:

“They [coaches, school boards and districts] have a legal duty to ensure compliance with safety protocols, like having cooling stations, emergency action plans and immediate medical response readiness. Failure to comply can lead to preventable injuries or deaths."

High school football player Chance Gainer dies on Friday

18-year-old high school football player Chance Gainer died on Friday during a game between Port St. Joe High School and Liberty County High School in Bristol, Florida. Gainer, a senior and cornerback, collapsed before halftime when running toward the opposite side of the field.

Coaches immediately rushed onto the field and called for paramedics. Jim Norton, Superintendent of Gulf District Schools, said that once the coaches realized the gravity of the situation, they waved over an ambulance already stationed nearby, and transported him to a hospital in Tallahassee, where he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.

The Port St. Joe community is heartbroken over Gainer's loss, as Principal Godwin said:

“You may not have heard Chance in the crowd, but you could see his smile from across the room.”

In the wake of his death, school staff, friends and clergy have gathered to support Gainer's grieving family. Tributes have poured in from local and neighboring football teams in the Panhandle, who plan to attend a special luncheon in his honor on Tuesday. A GoFundMe page has also been set up to assist Gainer's family.