Autopsy Reveals Cause of Death of Air Force Football Player Who Died Suddenly on Way to Class

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Last month, U.S. Air Force cadet and football player Hunter Brown collapsed and died on his way to class.

The incident, which took place on January 9th, sent shockwaves through the internet as people theorized what had led to the young man’s death.

According to his autopsy report, Brown suffered from a blood clot in his foot from an injury he had in practice two months earlier.

“With heavy hearts we share the loss of a cadet,” the Air Force academy tweeted on Jan. 10. “C3C Hunter Brown died Monday after suffering a medical emergency while on his way to class. Our thoughts are with his family, friends, teammates and fellow cadets.”

The autopsy report came from Dr. Jarod Murdoch.

“Based on the history, scene investigation, autopsy, virology, and toxicology findings, it is my opinion that Hunter Brown, a 21-year-old white male, died as a result of pulmonary thromboembolism due to deep vein thrombosis resulting from Lisfranc injury of the left lower extremity,” he wrote.

“The overall findings are consistent with this being an accidental death originating from an injury sustained during football practice several weeks prior to death,” Murdoch said.

The Western Journal reports further on his foot injury:

Brown, who was 6-foot-3 and 292 pounds at the time of his death, had undergone surgery for a Lisfranc injury to his left foot in November, The Gazette of Colorado Springs reported.

Lisfranc injuries “result if bones in the midfoot are broken or ligaments that support the midfoot are torn,” according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.

“A low-energy Lisfranc injury can happen with a simple twist and fall,” AAOS said. “It is also commonly seen in football and soccer players when one player lands on the back of another player’s foot while the foot is flexed downward in the push-off position.”

The autopsy also found Brown had an enlarged liver, heart and spleen at the time of his death, according to The Gazette.

Air Force head football coach troy Calhoun described Brown as a “pure joy.”

“Our players, staff and entire Academy have been so blessed and fortunate to have Hunter as a part of our lives. He was a pure joy to coach and have as a teammate,” Calhoun said.

“He wanted to kind of carry on that legacy, and he wanted to play football,” Brown’s father Dustin Brown said. “He found the opportunity to do both at the Air Force Academy.”

“What happened was a total shock,” mother Candyce Brown said. “He was just a great kid, but to know that multiple people have come to us and said that he helped them through hard times, for me that’s one thing that kind of stands out … that I’m very proud of.”



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