Injured Rugby player flown to Christchurch

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32970, 17 July 1972, Page 1

Injured Rugby player flown to Christchurch

An injured New Plymouth Rugby player was flown from New Plymouth to Christchurch yesterday to receive treatment for spinal injuries he suffered at a Rugby match on Saturday.

The man. Larry Jeffery, aged 23, was flown to Christchurch Airport and taken from there to Christchurch Hospital by St John ambulance. The hospital last night described his injuries as serious and said he was in a fairly comfortable condition. Jeffery’s wife is due to have a child this week. She is staying with her parents. Jeffery, an extrusion worker,'was carried from the field apparently paralysed from the waist down after a ruck. He was admitted to New Plymouth Hospital but treatment facilities were inadequate and yesterday morning he was flown to Christchurch in a Hawera Aero Club Cherokee. Jeffery, a flank forward for Fitzroy, was playing in a senior second division matcb against Stratford Old Boys.

According to the Fitzroy ! coach, Mr F. W. Clow, he tackled a Stratford player near the sideline about 35 • minutes into the first half and | a ruck formed with Jeffery at the bottom of the pile. “He was definitely not kicked. He was lying in an awkward position when the ruck formed over him,” Mr Clow said. The aircraft was piloted by the Hawera Aero Club’s chief instructor, Mr H. Scott, and Jeffery was accompanied by a doctor and a nurse.