RIVERDALE, Ga. — A Georgia high school football player who heroically tried to rescue his mother from a car accident ended up losing his leg, according to family members.
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De’Lon Jackson was leaving football practice at Charles Drew High School on July 29 when his mother, Raven Winston, was in a car accident on the way to pick him up.
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According to family members, Jackson heard the crash and rushed to help Winston get out of her car, but was then hit by another car.
The teen’s right leg was amputated at the scene. He also sustained extensive injuries to his left leg.
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Jackson is now at Grady Memorial Hospital, where he has had five surgeries and is expected to have three more. His mother is also recovering from the accident.
Channel 2′s Tom Jones was at the hospital Friday, where he learned that the surgery was unsuccessful and Jackson will have to have another one.
Winston told Jones that she went from celebrating her birthday to two bizarre crashes that dashed her son’s big NFL dreams.
“Seeing him cry at night is the hardest part,” Winston said. “For a teenager, this changes everything.”
Jackson said he was on the phone with his mother as she pulled into the high school parking lot to pick him up from football practice. Winston said someone T-boned her and Jackson heard her screams.
“I remember everything,” Jackson said. “I remember me getting my mom out the car. I was just saying, ‘I’m coming, mom. I’m coming.’ My first thought was to get her out the car.”
After he pulled his mother out, another car hit Winston’s, dragging Jackson down the street. The sophomore’s legs were left twisted and badly damaged.
“I’m just trying to stay calm and breathe,” Jackson said.
Doctors are now working to save Jackson’s left foot.
“We just had a surgery today, the 6th surgery,” Winston said. “It was unsuccessful so they are looking at another one on Monday.”
Jackson is using what happened to him to urge his teammates to savor every moment.
“Every practice, every game,” Jackson said. “I want them to go all out like it’s their last, because you never know when it’s gonna be your last.”
Police are still working on the incident report, so no one has been charged in Jackson’s crash.
Family members have set up a GoFundMe to help pay for De’Lon’s medical expenses and support Winston, who also has two younger children.
You can contribute HERE.
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