WKRN, Nashville, Tennessee News, Weather, and Sports |Ft. Campbell High School football player dies

Ft. Campbell High School football player dies

FT. CAMPBELL, Ky. - A football player at Ft. Campbell High School hospitalized after practice on Tuesday has died.

A spokesperson for Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt told News 2 the student, 16-year-old Tim Williams, passed away Wednesday evening.

Williams, an offensive lineman in his junior year, was said to be feeling disoriented after practice on Tuesday.

He was first taken to Blanchfield Army Community Hospital at Ft. Campbell and later transported to Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt.

The close-knit military base is stunned by the loss.

"The entire Ft. Campbell family is devastated by the loss of an incredible young man," said David Witte, principal of Fort Campbell High School. "He was an excellent role model for our school, football program and the community as a whole. He will be greatly missed, and our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this difficult time."

"Tim was a great kid," said Shawn Berner, head football coach at the school. "Football and faith were the most important parts of his and his family's life, and our program has suffered a terrible loss that will be tough to overcome."

Cindy Gibson, a spokesperson for the Department of Defense Education Activity, said heat was not a factor as temperatures Tuesday were in the 70s and it was raining.

She couldn't say if the student had a preexisting medical condition.

Jo Blease, assistant superintendent for the Kentucky School District of Department of Defense Elementary and Secondary Schools, said the Ft. Campbell community has wrapped Williams' family in love and "will continue to support them and our students through the difficult days ahead."