Player airlifted in injury to neck
Monday 13th April 2009, 11:09AM BST.
A Mid Wales rugby player was airlifted to hospital after injuring his neck during a Welsh League match.
Welshpool prop Ben Astley was flown to the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital from the pitch in a neck brace following the incident on Saturday.
He hit his head 10 minutes into the second half of the Welsh Rugby Union Division Two North defeat to Rhyl, but was later discharged from hospital with no major injuries.
Gary Williams, Welshpool WRU club secretary, said Astley was now ruled out for the season.
Mr Williams added: “Ben Astley took a knock when his head hit the ground.
“No Rhyl player was involved. He didn’t move for a while.
“We had an air ambulance on the pitch and took him to the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital.
“He won’t play again this season.”
A spokesman for the Wales Ambulance Service said: “We were called to the rugby match in Welshpool on Saturday afternoon.
“The casualty had hit his head on the pitch surface during the match and club officials called us because he was not moving.
“He was treated by paramedics at the scene for a neck injury and was placed in a neck brace and was then flown by the air ambulance to Shrewsbury hospital.”
Welshpool lost the match, which was played at Maesydre, 14-29.
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