Rugby player paralysed
A Kaiapoi Rugby player is lying oaralysed in the spinal unit of Christchurch Hospital after he broke his back during a match at Kaiapoi on Saturday. The player, Ronald Joseph Johnson, aged 27, was paralysed from the neck down after the accident but has since recovered some feeling in his arms.
Johnson, who is married with two children and who works as an upholsterer in Christchurch, was injured when a scrum collapsed about three minutes after the kick-off. Playing honker, he was caught at th' bottom of the heap.
St John ambulance brigadfcsmen examined Johnson on the field but did not move him. A doctor was also called and Johnson was taken to hospital by a St John ambulance.
Johnson is also a senior softball player for Western Suburbs and has represented Canterbury at the sport.
A meeting of senior Kaiapoi players, members of the executive, and the team's coach will be held this evening to consider raising funds for Johnson. The game, between Kaiapoi and Waiau, was continued on another field.
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Bibliographic details
Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33538, 20 May 1974, Page 1
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175Rugby player paralysed Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33538, 20 May 1974, Page 1
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