Rugby player breaks neck

Press, 16 April 1984, Page 8

Rugby player breaks neck

PA Dunedin A university student’s neck was broken when a scrum collapsed in a rugby match at Dunedin on Saturday. Robert Symon, aged 19, of New Plymouth, a surveying student at the University of Otago, was reported last evening to be in a stable condition at Dunedin Hospital. A bone in his neck was dislocated in the accident and he is now paralysed. However, the acting medical superintendent of Dunedin Hospital, Dr A. Simpson, said it was too early yet to tell whether this would be permanent. The accident occurred about 10 minutes into the second half of a game between two university third grade social teams who were having a “friendly” match when two other teams defaulted. The referee, Mr A. Grant, of Mosgiel, would noUiet Mr Symon be moved when the scrum collapsed ordered the players to get up one by

one. Another player who was partly under Mr Symon was told not to move and supported Mr Symon until the ambulance arrived. Dr Simpson said that ensuring the injured person was not moved was the correct thing to do. “It can prevent any further damage after the injury,” she said. “It gives him the best chance.” Another player, Tom Bennett of the opposing Shamrock team, said’that when the scrum collapsed Mr Symon, who was playing hooker, “just didn’t get up.” “The referee did a really good job. Nobody was too sure what to do and the referee stopped the game completely and made sure he was not moved." Mr Grant said the game was being played in “really good spirit” and this was the first scrum collapse in the match.

“Nobody had been pulling down and I told them before they went on that anyone who was not binding pro-

perly would be penalised,” he said. Mr Grant, who is 28 and in his second season refereeing, said that with earlier accidents in the North Island it was “a bit worrying for a referee. “As well as being an umpire we are there to protect the players, too,” he said. “When the scrum collapsed and he screamed out I told them to get up one at a time. One prop was supporting him and I told him to stay there to stop him (Symon) from rolling over.” Mr Grant said that as referee he did not feel that continuing the game for another 30 minutes was worth the risk of further injury. He said he knew not to move Mr Symon because of publicity given to similar accidents and through his wife, a nurse. The acting chief ambulance officer in Dunedin, Mr C. B. S. Wombwell, said: “Everyone did exactly the right thing and the handling was excellent.

“It is vital people understand the dangers of moving someone in this sort of situation and the people involved here did exactly as they should have.” A Wellington man died soon after he had played a club rugby match on Saturday. Allan James Morrell, aged 36, of Eastbourne, apparently had a heart attack after playing for Eastbourne in a President’s (over 30) grade match against Avalon. The Eastbourne club’s chairman, Mr John McFarlane, said yesterday that Mr Morrell had complained of feeling ill two minutes before the match ended. “After the game Mr Morrell still did not feel well and was attended by the St John Ambulance people. "While in the shower he appeared to have a massive heart attack and in spite of efforts by the St i John people and by various people who tried to revive him, he died.”