Sporting legend Tom Dempsey succumbed to complications brought about the coronavirus, reports USA Today.
The 73-year-old had been battling the coronavirus for a month now, after Lambeth House, the New Orleans senior home where he is staying, suffered an outbreak. Even before testing positive for the coronavirus, Dempsey was already suffering from dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
Aside from Dempsey, there were also at least 15 other seniors who have died from the coronavirus in the same senior home.
According to Dempsey’s daughter Ashley, their family was unable to visit because of the worsening conditions of the other residents of Lambeth House. Rather than face-to-face visits, Ashley says the family resorted to video chats to keep in touch with Tom.
Dempsey’s place in sports history was made possible by his time playing for the New Orleans Saints. On Nov. 8, 1970, he made a 63-yeard field goal that cemented the New Orleans Saints win against the Detroit Lions. The record-making field goal was not equaled for 28 years. It would take another 15 years before the record was surpassed by the 64-yard field goal made by Matt Prater of the Broncos.
As pointed out by The Guardian, what made Dempsey’s achievement even more spectacular was the fact that he was born without any toes on his right foot, which was the same foot he used to kick. To be able to kick, Dempsey had to have a custom-made flat boot made for him. The Pro Football Hall of Fame now displays that boot.
In a statement, the owner of the New Orleans Saints, Gayle Benson, spoke highly of Dempsey, saying that he showed “the power of the human spirit” and that no setbacks ever prevented him from achieving his dreams and aspirations.
Aside from the New Orleans Saints, Dempsey also played for other teams, such as the Buffalo Bills, the Houston Oilers, the Los Angeles Rams, and the Philadelphia Eagles.
The sporting legend is among the growing number of celebrities who have died because of COVID-19. Some of the deaths that have occurred over the past couple of weeks include that of acclaimed biographer Patricia Bosworth, British comedian Eddie Large, actors Mark Blum and Andrew Jack, and celebrity chef Floyd Cardoz.
The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the United States is at 304,826, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The New York Post reports that in New Orleans, there are now 12,400 confirmed cases of COVID-19, with the number of dead at 400.
In total, the world now has more than a million confirmed cases of COVID-19, according to the World Health Organization.