An eighth-grader from West Virginia died over the weekend from a severe brain injury sustained in a bizarre accident during football practice.

Cohen Craddock, 13, was playing defense at practice Friday afternoon when he collided with some teammates and was knocked down, his father Ryan told WSAZ.

The Madison Middle School student suffered a brain hemorrhage and swelling that led to a lack of oxygen, Ryan Craddock said.

Cohen died in hospital on Saturday.

“They just can’t believe it,” said the heartbroken father.

“You wish it was a bad dream that you could wake up from. It’s torture inside. I can’t put it into words. It’s horrible,” he added.

Cohen started eighth grade just three days before his death, Craddock told NBC News.

Craddock described the young teenager as “Mr. Personality” with a “heart of gold” who loved making friends at soccer practice and church.

“He was very, very smart, he was excellent at math, loved technical things and knew a lot about electronics and computers,” he told the outlet.

Off the field, Cohen already dreamed of becoming a computer engineer, Craddock added.

“As a father, I couldn’t have been prouder,” he said.

The grieving family now wants to raise awareness of safety protocols for young athletes – including Guardian Caps, soft helmet covers designed to soften the impact of direct blows.

“I think with the Guardian Cap there could have been a slightly different outcome,” Ryan Craddock said of his son’s fatal injury.

“And I want to at least protect all the other kids that I can, starting at the district level, if I can take it up to the state or federal level to push for those kids to start wearing Guardian Caps, at least at practice or however far they want to go,” he added.

“I just think if it saves another family the heartache that my family is going through right now, then it’s all worth it. I know Cohen would want that too. And he wouldn’t want me to wait or delay it.”

The family is grateful for the support of the community that has formed around them following the tragedy, Craddock told NBC.

“I didn’t realize that he actually touched so many people. Just his presence, his behavior, his personality. It just made everyone happy,” he said.

“I am very humbled that my 13-year-old son is receiving this recognition.”