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Djemayley Vernet, a former Stamford High School football player, died unexpectedly at the age of 16.

Djemayley Vernet, a former Stamford High School football player, died unexpectedly at the age of 16.

STAMFORD — Djmayley Vernet, a former Stamford High School football player who died last week at the age of 16, wanted to provide for his family, so “no one would struggle, everyone would be okay,” his cousin said Friday.

Instead, after the first day at his first part-time job, Vernet suffered a series of seizures. He was rushed to the hospital, seemingly recovered — then died last Saturday.

“This is a horrific impact, honestly — left a hole in our family. He was only 16,” said Noldylens Metayer. “He was a good kid. It wasn’t his time to go.”

Vernet was smart, Metayer said — in his elementary school years, his parents declined the suggestion that he skip a grade, preferring to keep him with his classmates and allow him to learn all he could — and devoted to his family, hoping to provide for them in the years to come.

On Aug. 3, Vernet attended training for his first part-time job, a role at Burlington Coat Factory, Metayer said. He came home afterwards and went to sleep. His brother later heard noises, then walked into the room to see Vernet seizing.

The family called police; Vernet was taken to the hospital, suffering more seizures along the way, Metayer said. He was placed into a medically-induced coma, then taken via helicopter to Yale New Haven Hospital.

By Aug. 5, Metayer said, Vernet had seemingly recovered — he was awake and talking, joking with his friends in the youth group of Church of God By Faith in Fairfield, who had come to see him. But, stricken again, he died the following day.

The cause of Vernet’s illness and death remains unknown, Metayer said. The episode came as a shock, he said, as seizures do not run in their family.

Metayer noted that the youth group is raising funds on the family’s behalf on GoFundMe. He asked for support, noting the cost of the hospital care, particularly the helicopter ride.

“Djemay was preparing to enter his junior year of high school, a year full of decisions and exploration. He was too young,” youth group members wrote in the tribute on the GoFundMe page. “We are coming here to ask for financial help with our brother’s medical bills and funeral expenses.”

Vernet is survived by his parents, Serge and Iverna Vernet, and his younger brother, Schmael, according to the youth group.

“He was the sweetest boy. Djemayley will forever be in our hearts, he will forever be in his parents hearts, and he will forever be in his little brother Schmael’s heart,” the post read. “We thank you for your support and ask that you send prayers to the Vernet Family.”

In the years to come, Metayer said he would be there for Schmael and strive to create more memories with his loved ones.

For him, he said, his cousin’s death had illuminated the precariousness of life. He urged other to be sure to “value your time with your family.”

“This was very unexpected. This was very shocking,” Metayer said. “I think about this every second of the day. It kills me... Why him?”

Ben Lambert covers police and public safety for the Register. A graduate of the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, he has worked on the behalf of the Valley Advocate, MassLive, The Register Citizen, and now, the New Haven Register. He spends far too much time thinking about the Boston Celtics.