Middletown Man Nearly Killed In Crash Cleared For Return To Football

MIDDLETOWN, CT — A year after being nearly killed in a car crash that claimed his best friend’s life, a Middletown man has been cleared to try out for semi-pro football teams, according to WTNH News 8.

WTNH reported Jamir Hamilton, 20, suffered a severe tear in his aorta, which was hanging on by a thread, in the June 2021 crash.

Hamilton, who played wide receiver in high school, credits EMTs along with doctors at Hartford Hospital with saving his life, according to WTNH. Hamilton and his family have launched a non-profit to help provide financial assistance to young athletes in need in honor of Amil Phillip, who died in the crash.

The Amil C. Phillip Youth Sports Fund “provides financial assistance for area youth to participate in athletic programs,” according to the Unashamed website. “Through this fund, Unashamed hopes to provide additional access to athletic activities to youth with financial barriers.”

Phillip was born and raised in Middletown and loved sports, according to the website.

“His mother was a single mom and worked hard to make sure that she kept Amil as active as possible in community and school sports,” a post on the website reads. “By middle school, Amil had fallen in love with the sport of football and played for the Middletown Tigers. In high school he continued his love for football and became a talented athlete as a Middletown Blue Dragon.

“On June 22, 2021 the family, friends and loved ones of Amil lost him in a tragic car accident. While he is no longer physically here, his spirit will live on forever. Amil’s big, bright eyes and infectious smile will forever remain in the hearts of those who loved him dearly.

“The Amil C. Phillips Youth Sports Fund has been created in his memory in the hope that it will help many youth be able to participate in the sports they love without a financial barrier.”

Read more about the fund here.

For the full story on WTNH News 8, visit here.