A YOUNG footballer’s life was thrown into disarray on Saturday after he was taken to Port Macquarie Base Hospital with a suspected spinal injury.
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The 15-year-old was visiting from Forster-Tuncurry to play rugby league against the Port City Breakers for his team, the Forster Tuncurry Hawks.
The incident happened about 8.45am at the Wood Street junior fields. Paramedics attended and said the youngster was injured in an attempted tackle when another player fell on him awkwardly and as a result may be left as a partial quadriplegic.
He was later flown to Royal North Shore Hospital. He has since undergone an operation and remains in the Intensive Care Unit.
At the time of print yesterday the youngster was said to be in a serious but stable condition.
Junior president of the Port City Breakers, Gary Hogan, said the whole club was in a state of shock.
“We’ve had continuing talks with the parents and the other club,” he said. “This is one incident you just wouldn’t wish on anyone.
“We send our best wishes and hope for a positive recovery.”
Hogan said the freakish incident had brought the rugby league community together.
He said plans were already being made to set up a fund for the family.
“This doesn’t just affect the junior club, we’ve had our senior players asking how he’s doing and even other clubs, like Wauchope, ringing to see what they can do,” he said.
“We are in the stages of setting a fund up for the family, we just want them to know we are here and willing to help them out anyway we can. It has affected everyone.”
