Lewis in hospital

Press, 23 July 1987, Page 48

Lewis in hospital

NZPA-AAP Brisbane The Australian rugby league captain, Wally Lewis, was in a satisfactory condition in Brisbane’s Wesley Hospital yesterday after suffering a heavy knock in Tuesday night’s test against New Zealand at Lang Park. The hospital’s nursing superintendent, Matron Helen Banff, said yesterday that Lewis’s condition was “quite satisfactory,” but could not reveal details of his injuries. She said he had had Xray examinations but did not know how long he would stay in hospital. "He’s bruised in the neck and his leg,” she said. “We can’t tell you what’s wrong.”

She said Lewis was reasonably comfortable and was sitting up.

“He’s as comfortable as he can be after playing the Kiwis,” she said. Lewis was hurt shortly before half-time and lay on his back for about three minutes, while treated by both the Australian and New Zealand trainers. But he played out the game despite the Australian trainer, Larry Britton, pleading with him to leave the field. The Australian centre, Brett Kenny, who was replaced in the second half, was scheduled to have a neck scan yesterday. Yesterday’s “Brisbane Telegraph” reported that Lewis’s wife and family

were deeply concerned about his neck injury. Lewis’s father, Jim, said that the injury was a worry, especially as he had complained of pins and needles in the legs after he was injured early in the first half, tackling the Kiwi fullback, Darrell Williams. Jim Lewis, who accompanied his son to the Wesley Hospital, said Wally was “pretty distressed” when he was admitted late on Tuesday night but he had feeling in his legs. The paper said that the Australian team manager, Dick Turner, conceded that Lewis possibly should have been replaced after suffering the injury.