HS Football Player Fighting for His Life After Exposure to Toxic Weed Killer

A Mississippi high school football player is fighting for his life after accidentally being exposed to a highly toxic weed killer so dangerous that federal officials warn just one small sip can be fatal.

Zach Brown, a junior football player at Lake Cormorant High School, became critically ill after being exposed to paraquat, a powerful herbicide widely used to kill weeds and dry out crops.

Brown is now hospitalized at Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston, where he remains on life support and is being evaluated for a possible lung transplant, according to a GoFundMe organized with his family.

Exactly how Brown came into contact with the chemical has not been publicly revealed.

His family has stressed that the incident was accidental and did not happen at his school, near the school or on surrounding farmland.

“Please be mindful about speculation or placing blame on our local farmers,” organizers wrote. “They had absolutely nothing to do with what happened to Zach.”

Paraquat is considered one of the most dangerous herbicides in use.

Dr. Michael Marlin of the Mississippi Poison Control Center described it as “probably the most toxic herbicide by far.”

“It can easily injure fats, proteins,” Marlin told WMC-TV. “It’s not selective in the injuries it does to the body.”

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says paraquat is commonly used in the United States for weed control and crop treatment, but warns that exposure can cause devastating injuries.

The EPA says swallowing paraquat can be fatal, while exposure to the skin or eyes can cause serious and lasting damage.

Most alarmingly, the agency warns that “one small sip can be fatal and there is no antidote.”

The herbicide has been banned in more than 70 countries.

As Brown battles for his life, his teammates, coaches, classmates and community have rallied around him.

Lake Cormorant head football coach Nick Nester described the offensive lineman as a hardworking and humble teenager who represents his school with pride.

“He’s a first-class kid,” Nester told WMC-TV. “Very humble, very quiet, hardworking.”

Nester and his wife helped Brown’s family launch the fundraiser after the teenager was transferred from Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital to Texas Children’s Hospital for more specialized treatment.

“Everybody’s kind of rallied around Zach,” Nester said. “The school loves him. His teammates love him. His coaches love him. So just trying to be there in every way possible.”

Despite the seriousness of Brown’s condition, his family has reportedly received some encouraging news.

Nester said recent conversations with the family have sounded more hopeful.

“They said the last couple of days have been looking a lot more positive than it had been in the past,” he said.

Brown has apparently made it through some of the most difficult moments of his medical battle, but his coach cautioned that the teenager is still facing a long and uncertain road.

“I don’t think he’s completely out of the woods yet either,” Nester said.

The fundraiser is helping Brown’s family cover medical expenses and other costs as doctors continue evaluating whether he will need a lung transplant.