Family of Bucknell football player who died after collapsing during first practice files lawsuit

The parents of Calvin "CJ" Dickey Jr. filed a suit against Bucknell University connected Wednesday, astir a twelvemonth aft the 18-year-old died aft collapsing during his first-ever shot signifier with the squad implicit the summer.

Mike Caspino, the lawyer representing the family, announced the suit during a property conference, alongside Dickey’s parents. 

"He was a superb athlete. He was a large pupil and an unbelievable quality being. And connected July 12, 2024, helium died a precise painful, precise brutal decease due to the fact that of the shot coaches astatine Bucknell University," Caspino said. 

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"Despite the information that CJ Dickey died astir 9 months ago, the schoolhouse has withheld – is not telling his parents the circumstances and the facts astir wherefore helium died. They garbage to archer them the communicative astir however their lad died. … They are hiding what happened, and we are forced to record this suit truthful that we tin find retired the truth." 

According to Caspino, Dickey died from rhabdomyolysis, which is simply a uncommon and life-threatening musculus information triggered by aggravated workouts. He was much apt to endure from the information aft antecedently being diagnosed with sickle compartment trait, thing the suit alleges Bucknell was alert of earlier Dickey began grooming camp. 

The lawsuit, obtained by ESPN, claimed that Dickey performed 100 up-downs connected July 9 "as punishment" aft the squad "messed up" astatine a workout and that players performing the drill noticed him "falling down the remainder of the group." 

Bucknell called Dickey's decease "a tragic loss" but would not remark further owed to pending litigation. (Education Images/Universal Images Group)

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According to ESPN’s erstwhile reporting, Dickey collapsed and was transferred to a infirmary wherever helium was enactment connected dialysis. He underwent exigency country to relieve unit successful his extremities, but his bosom stopped and helium died 2 days aft the incident. 

"He died a horrible, achy decease that was 100% preventable," Caspino said Wednesday. 

In a connection to respective outlets, Bucknell called Dickey's decease "a tragic loss" but would not remark further owed to pending litigation. 

"The decease of a pupil is ever a tragic loss. While the University volition not remark connected pending litigation, we again widen heartfelt sympathies to CJ's family, and we volition proceed to absorption connected our astir important precedence -- the wellness and information of each Bucknell students."

The NCAA requires each athletes to trial for the sickle compartment trait. (Ben Hasty/MediaNews Group/Reading Eagle via Getty Images)

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According to the NCAA policy, each athletes are required to acquisition sickle compartment solubility investigating oregon supply results from a trial wrong six months of participating successful sports activities. In Dickey’s case, the suit alleged that helium tested affirmative and that a trainer from Bucknell spoke to his parent anterior to the incidental connected July 12. 

The suit accused the assemblage and others of negligence and is seeking compensation and accusation surrounding Dickey’s death.

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